(/utA^ 


CHRISTIAN    BIOGEAPHY, 


THE  LIFE  OE  SIR  MAnHEW  HALE,  KXIGHT. 
THE  LIFE  OF  REV.  JOSEPH  ALLEI>'E. 
THE  LIFE  OF  NATHANAEL  HEYWOOD. 


EDITED  BY  THOMAS  JACKSON. 


JTctD-Tlork: 


PUBLISHED  BY  CARLTON  &   PHILLIPS, 

200    MCLBEEnr-STREET. 

1S53. 


5R 

SANTA  BAPwBAKA 

\loo 

;r3 

THE    LIFE 


SIR    MATTHEW   HALE,   KNT 


LATE    LORD    CHIEF   JUSTICE   OK   ENGLAND 


BY  GILBERT   BURNET,   D.  D 


BISHOP  OF   SARUM. 


THE  LIFE 


SIR  MATTHEW  HALE,  KNIGHT. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Matthew  Hale  was  bom  at  Alderley  in 
Gloucestershire,  November  1st,  1609.  His 
grandfather  was  Robert  Hale,  an  eminent  clo- 
thier in  Wotton-under-Edge,  in  that  county, 
where  he  and  his  ancestors  had  lived  for  many 
descents  ;  and  they  had  given  several  parcels 
of  land  for  the  use  of  the  poor,  which  are  en- 
joyed by  them  to  this  day.  This  Robert  ac- 
quired an  estate  of  ten  thousand  pounds,  which 
he  divided  almost  equally  among  his  five  sons, 
besides  the  portions  he  gave  his  daughters,  from 
whom  a  numerous  posterity  has  sprung.  His 
second  son  was  Robert  Hale,  a  barrister  of 
Lincoln's  Inn  :  he  married  Joan,  the  daughter 
of  Matthew  Poyntz,  of  Alderley,  Esquire,  who 
was  descended  from  that  noble  family  of  the 
Poyntz's  of  Acton.  Of  this  marriage  there  was 
no  other  issue  but  this  one  son.  His  grandfa- 
ther by  his  mother  was  his  godfather,  and  gave 
him  his  own  name  at  his  baptism.  His  father 
was  a  man  of  that  strictness  of  conscience,  that 
he  gave  over  the  practice  of  the  law,  because 


6  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

he  could  not  understand  the  reason  of  giving 
colour  in  pleadings,  which  as  he  thought  was 
to  tell  a  lie  ;  and  that,  with  some  other  things 
commonly  practised,  seemed  to  him  contrary  to 
that  exactness  of  truth  and  justice  which  became 
a  Christian  ;  so  that  he  withdrew  himself  from 
the  inns  of  court,  to  live  on  his  estate  in  the 
country.  Of  this  I  was  informed  by  an  ancient 
gentleman  that  lived  in  a  friendship  with  his 
son  for  fifty  years  ;  and  he  heard  Judge  Jones, 
who  was  Mr.  Hale's  contemporary,  declare  this 
in  the  King's  Bench.  But  as  the  care  he  had 
to  save  his  soul  made  him  abandon  a  profession 
in  which  he  might  have  raised  his  family  much 
higher,  so  his  charity  to  his  poor  neighbours 
made  him  not  only  deal  his  alms  largely  among 
them  while  he  lived,  but  at  his  death  he  left 
(out  of  his  small  estate,  which  was  one  hundred 
pounds  a  year)  twenty  pounds  a  year  to  the 
poor  of  Wotton,  which  his  son  confirmed  to 
them  with  some  addition,  and  with  this  regula- 
tion, that  it  should  be  distributed  among  such 
poor  housekeepers  as  did  not  receive  the  alms 
of  the  parish ;  for  to  give  it  to  those  was  only, 
as  he  used  to  say,  to  save  so  much  money  to 
the  rich,  who  by  law  were  bound  to  relie^'e  the 
poor  of  the  parish. 

Thus  he  was  descended  rather  from  a  good 
than  a  noble  family  ;  and  yet  what  was  wanting 
in  the  insignificant  titles  of  high  birth  and  noble 
blood  was  more  than  made  up  in  the  true  worth 
of  his  ancestors.  But  he  was  soon  deprived  of 
the  happiness  of  his  father's  care  and  instruo 


LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  7 

tion ;  for  as  be  lost  his  mother  before  he  was 
three  years  old,  so  bis  father  died  before  he  was 
five  ;  so  early  was  he  cast  on  the  providence 
of  God.  But  that  iinhappiness  w^as,  in  a  great 
measure,  made  up  to  him  ;  for  after  some  oppo- 
sition made  by  Mr.  Thomas  Poyntz,  his  uncle 
by  bis  mother,  he  was  committed  to  the  care 
of  Anthony  Kingscot,  of  Kingscot,  Esquire, 
who  was  his  next  kinsman,  after  his  uncles,  by 
his  mother. 

Great  care  was  taken  of  his  education,  and 
his  guardian  intended  to  breed  him  to  be  a  di- 
vine ;  and,  being  inclined  to  the  way  of  those 
then  called  Puritans,  put  him  to  some  schools 
that  were  taught  by  those  of  that  party,  and  in 
the  seventeenth  year  of  his  age  sent  him  to 
Magdalen  Hall,  in  Oxford,  where  Obadiah  Sedg- 
wick was  his  tutor.  He  was  an  extraordinary 
proficient  at  school,  and  for  some  time  at  Ox- 
ford ;  but  the  stage  players  coming  thither,  he 
was  so  much  corrupted  by  seeing  many  plays, 
that  he  almost  wholly  forsook  his  studies.  By 
this  he  not  only  lost  much  time,  but  found  that 
his  head  came  to  be  thereby  filled  with  such 
vain  images  of  things,  that  they  were  at  best 
unprofitable,  if  not  hurtful  to  him  ;  and  being 
afterward  sensible  of  the  mischief  of  this,  he 
resolved,  upon  his  coming  to  London,  (where 
he  knew  the  opportunities  of  such  sights  would 
be  more  frequent  and  inviting,)  never  to  see  a 
play  again  ;  to  which  he  constantly  adhered. 

The  corruption  of  a  young  man's  mind  in  one 
particular  generally  draws  on   a   great   many 


8  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

more  after  it ;  so  he,  being  now  taken  off  from 
following  his  studies,  and  from  the  gravity  of 
his  deportment,  that  was  formerly  eminent  in 
him  far  beyond  his  years,  set  himself  to  many 
of  the  vanities  incident  to  youth,  but  still  pre- 
served his  purity,  and  a  great  probity  of  mind. 
He  loved  fine  clothes,  and  delighted  much  in 
company ;  and,  being  of  a  strong  robust  body, 
he  was  a  great  master  at  all  those  exercises  that 
required  much  strength.  He  also  learned  to 
fence  and  handle  his  weapons  ;  in  which  he 
became  so  expert,  that  he  worsted  many  of  the 
masters  of  those  arts  :  but  as  he  was  exercising 
of  himself  in  them,  an  instance  appeared,  that 
showed  a  good  judgment,  and  gave  some  hopes 
of  better  things.  One  of  his  masters  told  him 
he  could  teach  him  no  more,  for  he  was  now 
better  at  his  own  trade  than  himself  was.  This 
JNIr.  Hale  looked  on  as  flattery  :  so,  to  make  the 
master  discover  himself,  he  promised  him  the 
house  he  lived  in,  for  he  was  his  tenant,  if  he 
could  hit  him  a  blow  on  the  head  ;  and  bade 
him  do  his  best,  for  he  would  be  as  good  as  his 
word.  So,  after  a  little  engagement,  his  mas- 
ter being  really  superior  to  him,  hit  him  on  the 
head,  and  he  performed  his  promise  ;  for  he 
gave  him  the  house  freely,  and  was  not  unwill- 
ing at  that  rate  to  learn  so  early  to  distinguish 
flatter}'  from  plain  and  simple  truth. 

He  nov/  was  so  taken  up  with  martial  mat- 
ters, that,  instead  of  going  on  in  his  design  of 
being  a  scholar,  or  a  divine,  he  resolved  to  be  a 
soldier ;  and  his  tutor  Sedgwick  going  into  the 


LIFE    or    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  9 

Low  Countries,  chaplain  to  the  renowned  Lord 
Vere,  he  resolved  to  go  along  with  him,  and  to 
trail  a  pike  in  the  Prince  of  Orange's  army. 
But  a  happy  stop  was  put  to  this  resolution, 
which  might  have  proved  so  fatal  to  himself, 
and  have  deprived  the  age  of  the  great  example 
he  gave,  and  the  useful  services  he  afterward 
did  his  countr)-.  He  was  engaged  in  a  suit  of 
law  with  Sir  William  Whitmore,  who  laid  claim 
to  some  part  of  his  estate  ;  and  his  guardian  be- 
ing a  man  of  a  retired  temper,  and  not  made  for 
business,  he  was  forced  to  leave  the  university, 
after  he  had  been  three  years  in  it,  and  go  to 
London  to  solicit  his  own  business.  Being  re- 
commended to  Sergeant  Glanvil  for  his  coun- 
sellor, and  he  observing  in  him  a  clear  appre- 
hension of  things,  and  a  solid  judgment,  and  a 
great  fitness  for  the  study  of  the  law,  took  pains 
upon  him  to  persuade  him  to  forsake  his  thoughts 
of  being  a  soldier,  and  to  apply  himself  to  the 
study  of  the  law  ;  and  this  had  so  good  an  effect 
on  him,  that  on  November  8th,  1629,  when  he 
was  past  the  twentieth  year  of  his  age,  he  was 
admitted  into  Lincoln's  Inn  ;  and  being  then 
deeply  sensible  how  much  time  he  had  lost, 
and  that  idle  and  vain  things  had  overrun  and 
almost  corrupted  his  mind,  he  resolved  to  re- 
deem the  time  he  had  lost,  and  followed  his 
studies  with  a  diligence  that  could  scarce  be 
believed,  if  the  signal  effects  of  it  did  not  gain 
it  credit.  He  studied  for  many  years  at  the 
rate  of  sixteen  hours  a  day  :  he  threw  aside  all 
fine    clothes,    and    betook   himself  to    a   plain 


10  LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW   HALE, 

fashion,  which  he  continued  to  use   in  many 
points  to  his  dying  day. 

But  since  the  honour  of  reclaiming  him  from 
the  idleness  of  his  former  course  of  life  is  due 
to  the  memory  of  that  eminent  lawyer,  Sergeant 
Glanvil,  and  since  my  design  in  writing  is  to 
propose  a  pattern  of  heroic  virtue  to  the  world, 
I  shall  mention  one  passage  of  the  sergeant, 
'which  ought  ncA-er  to  be  forgotten.  His  father 
had  a  fair  estate,  which  he  intended  to  settle 
on  his  elder  brother  ;  but  he  being  a  vicious 
young  man,  and  there  appearing  no  hopes  of 
his  recovery,  he  settled  it  on  him  who  was  his 
second  son.  Upon  his  death,  his  eldest  son, 
finding  that  what  he  had  before  looked  on  as 
the  threatenings  of  an  angry  father  was  now  but 
too  certain,  became  melancholy ;  and  that  by 
degrees  wrought  so  great  a  change  on  him, 
that  what  his  father  could  not  prevail  in  while 
he  lived  was  now  effected  by  the  severity  of 
his  last  will ;  so  that  it  was  now  too  late  for 
him  to  change  in  hopes  of  any  estate  that  was 
gone  from  him.  But  his  brother,  observing  the 
reality  of  the  change,  resolved  within  himself 
what  to  do  :  so  he  called  him  with  many  of  his 
friends  together  to  a  feast ;  and,  after  other 
dishes  had  been  served  up  to  the  dinner,  he 
ordered  one  that  was  covered  to  be  set  before 
his  brother,  and  desired  him  to  uncover  it, 
which  he  doing,  the  company  were  surprised 
to  find  it  full  of  writings.  So  he  told  them,  that 
he  was  now  to  do  what  he  was  sure  his  father 
would  have   done,  if  he  had  lived  to  see  that 


LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  11 

happy  change  which  they  now  all  saw  in  his 
brother  ;  and,  therefore,  he  freely  restored  to 
him  the  whole  estate.  This  is  so  great  an  in- 
stance of  a  generous  and  just  disposition,  that  I 
hope  the  reader  will  easily  pardon  this  digres- 
sion ;  and  that  the  rather,  since  that  worthy 
sergeant  was  so  instrumental  in  the  happy 
change  that  followed  in  the  course  of  Mr. 
Hale's  life. 

Yet  he  did  not  at  tirst  break  off  from  keeping 
too  much  company  with  some  vain  people,  till 
a  sad  accident  drove  him  from  it ;  for  he,  with 
some  other  young  students,  being  invited  to  be 
merry  out  of  town,  one  of  the  company  called 
for  so  much  wine,  that,  notwithstanding  all  that 
Mr.  Hale  could  do  to  prevent  it,  he  went  on  in 
his  excess  till  he  fell  down  as  dead  before  ihem ; 
so  that  all  that  were  present  were  not  a  little 
affrighted  at  it,  who  did  w^hat  they  could  te 
bring  him  to  himself  again.  This  did  particu- 
larly affect  Mr.  Hale,  who  thereupon  went  into 
another  room,  and,  shutting  the  door,  fell  on 
his  knees,  and  prayed  earnestly  to  God,  both  for 
his  friend  that  he  might  be  restored  to  life  again, 
and  that  himself  might  be  forgiven  for  giving 
such  countenance  to  so  much  excess  ;  and  he 
vowed  to  God,  that  he  would  never  again  keep 
company  in  that  manner,  nor  drink  a  health 
while  he  lived.  His  friend  recovered,  and  he 
most  religiously  observed  his  vow  till  his  dying 
day.  And  though  he  was  afterward  pressed  to 
drink  healths,  particularly  the  king's,  which  was 
set  up  by  too  many  as  a  distinguishing  mark  of 


12  LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW   HALE. 

loyalty,  and  drew  many  into  great  excess,  after 

his  majesty's  happy  restoration  ;  but  he  would 
never  dispense  with  his  vow,  though  he  was 
sometimes  roughly  treated  for  this,  which  some 
hot  and  indiscreet  men  called  obstinacy. 

This  wrought  an  entire  change  on  him  :  now 
he  forsook  all  vain  company,  and  divided  him- 
self between  the  duties  of  religion  and  the  stu- 
dies of  his  profession.  In  the  former  he  was 
so  regular,  that  for  six  and  thirty  year's  time  he 
never  once  failed  going  to  church  on  the  Lord's 
day.  This  observation  he  made  when  an  ague 
first  interrupted  that  constant  course  ;  and  he 
reflected  on  it,  as  an  acknowledgment  of  God's 
great  goodness  to  him,  in  so  long  a  continuance 
of  his  health. 

He  took  a  strict  account  of  his  time,  of  which 
the  reader  will  best  judge  by  the  scheme  he  drew 
for  a  diary,  which  I  shall  insert,  copied  from  the 
original ;  but  I  am  not  certain  when  he  made 
it ;  it  is  set  down  in  the  same  simplicity  in 
which  he  wrote  it  for  his  own  private  use. 

MORNING. 

1.  To  lift  up  the  heart  to  God  in  thankfulness 
for  renewing  my  life. 

2.  To  renew  my  covenant  with  God  in  Christ, 
(1.)  By  renewed  acts  of  faith  receiving  Christ, 
and  rejoicing  in  the  height  of  that  relation. 
(2.)  Resolution  of  being  one  of  his  people,  do- 
ing him  allegiance. 

3.  Adoration  and  prayer. 

4.  Setting  a  watch  over  my  own  infirmities 


LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  13 

and  passions,  over  the  snares  laid  in  our  way. 
Pcrimus  Ileitis. 

Day  Employment. 

There  must  be  an  employment,  two  kinds:  — 

1.  Our  ordinary  calling,  to  serve  God  in  it. 
It  is  a  service  to  Christ,  though  never  so  mean. 
(Colossians  iii.)  Here  faithfulness,  diligence, 
cheerfulness.  Not  to  over-lay  myself  with  more 
business  than  I  can  bear. 

2.  Our  spiritual  employments  ;  mingle  some- 
what of  God's  immediate  service  in  this  day. 

Refreshments. 

1.  Meat  and  drink,  moderation  seasoned  with 
somewhat  of  God. 

2.  Recreations.  (1.)  Not  our  business.  (2.) 
Suitable.  No  games,  if  given  to  covetousness 
or  passion. 

If  alone. 

1.  Beware  of  wandering,  vain,  lustful 
thoughts  ;  fly  from  thyself  rather  than  entertain 
these. 

2.  Let  thy  solitary  thoughts  be  profitable  ; 
view  the  evidences  of  thy  salvation,  the  state 
of  thy  soul,  the  coming  of  Christ,  thy  own  mor- 
tality ;  it  will  make  thee  humble  and  watchful. 

Company. 

Do  good  to  them.  Use  God's  name  reverent- 
ly.    Beware  of  leaving  an  ill  impression  of  ill 


14  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

example.      Receive   good   from  them  if  more 
knowing. 

EVENING. 

Cast  up  the  accounts  of  the  day.  If  aught 
amiss,  beg  pardon.  Gather  resolution  of  more 
vigilance.  If  well,  bless  the  mercy  and  grace 
of  God  that  hath  supported  thee. 

These  notes  have  an  imperfection  in  the 
v.'ording  of  them,  which  shows  they  were  only 
intended  for  his  privacies.  No  wonder  a  man 
who  set  such  rules  to  himself  became  quickly 
very  eminent  and  remarkable. 

Noy,  the  attorney-general,  being  then  one  of 
the  greatest  men  of  the  profession,  took  early 
notice  of  him,  and  called  often  for  him,  and  di- 
rected him  in  his  study,  and  grew  to  have  such 
friendship  for  him  that  he  came  to  be  called 
young  Noy.  He  passing  from  the  extreme  of 
vanity  in  his  apparel,  to  that  of  neglecting  him- 
self too  much,  Avas  once  taken,  when  there  was 
a  press  for  the  king's  service,  as  a  fit  person  for 
it ;  for  he  was  a  strong  and  well-built  man  ;  but 
some  that  knew  him  coming  by,  and  giving  no- 
tice who  he  was,  the  press-men  let  him  go. 
This  made  him  return  to  more  decency  in  his 
clothes,  but  never  to  any  superfluity  or  vanity 
in  them. 

Once  as  he  was  buying  some  cloth  for  a  new 
suit,  the  draper,  with  whom  he  differed  about 
the  price,  told  him  he  should  have  it  for  nothing, 
if  he  would  promise  him  one  hundred  pounds 


LIFK    OF    SIR    .MATTHEW    HALE.  15 

when  he  came  to  be  lord  chief  justice  of  Eng- 
land ;  to  which  he  answered,  that  he  could  not 
with  a  good  conscience  wear  any  man's  cloth, 
unless  lie  paid  for  it ;  so  he  satislied  the  draper, 
and  carried  away  the  cloth.  Yet  the  same 
draper  lived  to  see  him  advanced  to  that  same 
dignity. 

While  he  was  thus  improving  himself  in  the 
study  of  the  law,  he  not  only  kept  the  hours  of 
the  hall  constantly  in  term  time,  but  seldom  put 
himself  out  of  commons  in  vacation  time  ;  and 
continued  then  to  follow  his  studies  with  an  un- 
v.-earied  diligence  ;  and  not  being  satislied  with 
the  books  writ  about  it,  or  to  take  things  upon 
trust,  was  very  diligent  in  searching  all  records. 
Then  did  he  make  divers  collections  out  of  the 
books  he  had  read,  and,  mixing  them  with  his 
own  observations,  digested  them  into  a  common- 
place book ;  which  he  did  with  so  much  indus- 
try and  judgment,  that  an  eminent  judge  of  the 
King's  Bench  borrowed  it  of  him,  when  he  was 
lord  chief  baron.  He  unwillingly  lent  it,  be- 
cause it  had  been  writ  by  him  before  he  was 
called  to  the  bar,  and  had  never  been  thorough- 
ly revised  by  him  since  that  time  ;  only  what 
alterations  had  been  made  in  the  law  by  sub- 
sequent statutes  and  judgments,  were  added  by 
him  as  they  had  happened.  But  the  judge 
having  perused  it,  said,  that  though  it  was  com- 
posed by  him  so  early,  he  did  not  think  any 
lawyer  in  P^ngland  could  do  it  better,  except 
he  himself  would  again  set  about  it. 

He   was  soon  found  out  by  that  great   and 


16  LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW   HALE. 

learned  antiquary,  Mr.  Selden,  who,  though 
much  superior  to  him  in  years,  yet  came  to 
have  such  a  liking  of  him  and  of  Mr.  Vaughan, 
who  was  afterward  lord  chief  justice  of  the 
common  pleas,  that  as  he  continued  in  a  close 
friendship  with  them  while  he  lived,  so  he  left 
them  at  his  death  two  of  his  four  executors. 

It  was  this  acquaintance  that  first  set  Mr. 
Hale  on  a  more  enlarged  pursuit  of  learning, 
which  he  had  before  confined  to  his  own  pro- 
fession ;  but  becoming  as  great  a  master  in  it  as 
ever  any  was  very  soon,  he,  who  could  never  let 
any  of  his  time  go  away  unprofitably,  found 
leisure  to  attain  to  as  great  a  variety  of  know- 
ledge, in  as  comprehensive  a  manner  as  most 
men  have  done  in  any  age. 

He  set  himself  much  to  the  study  of  the  Ro- 
man law  ;  and  though  he  liked  the  way  of  judi- 
cature in  England,  by  juries,  much  better  than 
that  of  the  civil  law,  where  so  much  was  trusted 
to  the  judge  ;  yet  he  often  said  that  the  true 
grounds  and  reasons  of  law  were  so  well  de- 
livered in  the  digests,  that  a  man  could  never 
understand  law  as  a  science  so  well  as  by  seek- 
ing it  there  ;  and  therefore  lamented  much  that 
it  was  so  little  studied  in  England. 

He  looked  on  readiness  in  arithmetic  as  a 
thing  which  might  be  useful  to  him  in  his  own 
employment ;  and  acquired  it  to  such  a  degree 
that  he  would  often  on  a  sudden,  and  afterward 
on  the  bench,  resolve  very  hard  questions, 
which  had  puzzled  the  best  accountants  about 
town.     He  rested  not  here  ;    but  studied  the 


LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  17 

algebra,  both  speciosa  and  numcrosa,  and  went 
through  all  the   other  mathematical  sciences ; 
and  made  a  great  collection  of  very  excellent 
instruments,  sparing  no  cost  to  have  them  as 
exact  as  art  could  make  them.     He   was  also 
very  conversant  in  philosophical  learning,  and 
in  all  the  curious  experiments  and  rare  discove- 
ries of  this  age  :   and  had  the  new  books  writ- 
ten on  those  subjects  sent  him  from  all  parts, 
which  he  both  read  and  examined  so  critically, 
that  if  the  principles  and  hypotheses  which  he 
took  first  up  did  any  way  prepossess  him,  yet 
those   who  have   differed   most  from  him    ac- 
knowledged, that  in  what  he  has  written  con- 
cerning the  Torricellian  experiment,  and  of  the 
rarefaction  and  condensation  of  the  air,  he  shows 
as  great  an  exactness,  and  as  much  subtlety  in 
the  reasoning  he  builds  on  them,  as  these  prin- 
ciples, to  which  he  adhered,  could  bear.      But 
indeed  it  will   seem  scarcely  credible,  that  a 
man  so   much  employed,  and  of  so   severe    a 
temper  of  mind,  could  find  leisure  to  read,  ob- 
serve, and  write  so  much  of  these  subjects  as 
he  did.     He  called  them  his  diversions  ;  for  he 
often  said,  when  he  was  weary  with  the  study  of 
the  law  or  divinity,  he  used  to  recreate  himself 
with  philosophy  or  the  mathematics  :  to   these 
ho  added  great  skill  in  physic,  anatomy,  and 
chirurgcry  ;  and  he  used  to  say,  no  man  could 
be  absolutely  a  master  in  any  profession,  with- 
but   having  some  skill  in  other   sciences  ;  for 
besides  the  satisfaction  he  had  in  the  knowledge 
of  these  things,  he  made  use  of  them  often  in 
2 


18  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

his  employments.  In  some  examinations  he 
would  put  such  questions  to  physicians  or  chi- 
rurgeons,  that  they  have  professed  the  college 
of  physicians  could  not  do  it  more  exactly  ;  by 
which  he  discovered  great  judgment,  as  well  as 
much  knowledge  in  these  things.  And  in  his 
sickness  he  used  to  argue  with  the  doctors  about 
his  distempers,  and  the  methods  they  took  with 
them,  like  one  of  their  own  profession;  which 
one  of  them  told  me  he  understood  as  far  as 
speculation  without  practice  could  carry  him. 

To  this  he  added  great  searches  into  ancient 
history  ;  and  particularly  into  the  roughest  and 
least  delightful  part  of  it,  chronology.  He  was 
well  acquainted  with  the  ancient  Greek  philo- 
sophers ;  but  want  of  occasion  to  use  it  wore 
out  his  knowledge  of  the  Greek  tongue  :  and 
though  he  never  studied  the  Hebrew  tongue, 
yet,  by  his  great  conversation  with  Selden,  he 
understood  the  most  curious  things  in  the  rab- 
binical learning. 

But  above  all  these,  he  seemed  to  have  made 
the  study  of  divinity  the  chief  of  all  others  ;  to 
•which  he  not  only  directed  every  thing  else,  but 
also  arrived  at  that  pitch  in  it,  that  those  who 
have  read  what  he  has  written  on  these  subjects 
will  think  they  must  have  had  most  of  his  time 
and  thoughts.  It  may  seem  extravagant,  and 
almost  incredible,  that  one  man,  in  no  great 
compass  of  years,  should  have  acquired  such  a 
variety  of  knowledge,  and  that  in  sciences  that 
require  much  leisure  and  application.  But  as 
his   parts   were  quick,   and    his    apprehension 


LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  19 

lively  ;  his  memory  great,  and  his  judgment 
strong  ;  so  his  industry  was  almost  indefatiga- 
ble. He  rose  always  betimes  in  the  morning  ; 
was  never  idle  ;  scarcely  ever  held  any  dis- 
course about  news,  except  with  some  few,  in 
whom  he  confided  entirely.  He  entered  into 
no  correspondence  by  letters,  except  about  ne- 
cessary business,  or  matters  of  learning  ;  and 
spent  very  little  time  in  eating  or  drinking  ;  for 
as  he  never  went  to  public  feasts,  so  he  gave 
no  entertainments  but  to  the  poor ;  for  he  fol- 
lowed our  Saviour's  direction  (of  feasting  none 
but  these)  literally  :  and  in  eating  and  drinking 
he  observed  not  only  great  plainness  and  mo- 
deration, but  lived  so  philosophically,  that  he 
always  ended  his  meal  with  an  appetite  ;  so 
that  he  lost  little  time  at  it,  (that  being  the  only 
portion  which  he  grudged  himself,)  and  was 
disposed  to  any  exercise  of  his  mind,  to  which 
he  thought  fit  to  apply  himself,  immediately 
after  he  had  dined.  By  these  means  he  gained 
much  time,  that  is  otherwise  unprofitably  wasted. 
He  had  also  an  admirable  equality  in  the 
temper  of  his  mind,  which  disposed  him  for 
whatever  studies  he  thought  fit  to  turn  himself 
to ;  and  some  very  uneasy  things  which  he  lay 
under  for  many  years  did  rather  engage  him  to, 
than  distract  him  from,  his  studies. 


20  LIFE   Of    SIR   MATTHEW    HALE. 


CHAPTER  II. 

When  he  was  called  to  the  bar  and  began  to 
make  a  figure  in  the  world,  the  late  unhappy 
wars  broke  out ;  in  which  it  was  no  easy  thing 
for  a  man  to  preserve  his  integrity,  and  to  live 
securely,  free  from  great  danger  and  trouble. 
He  had  read  the  life  of  Pomponius  Atticus, 
M'ritten  by  Nepos  ;  and  having  observed  that 
he  had  passed  through  a  time  of  as  much  dis- 
traction as  ever  was  in  any  age  or  state,  from  the 
wars  of  Marius  and  Sylla,  to  the  beginning  of 
Augustus's  reign,  without  the  least  blemish  on 
his  reputation,  and  free  from  any  considerable 
danger,  being  held  in  great  esteem  by  all  par- 
ties, and  courted  and  favoured  by  them  ;  he -set 
him  as  a  pattern  to  himself:  and  observing, 
that  besides  those  virtues  which  are  necessary 
to  all  men,  and  at  all  times,  there  were  two 
things  that  chiefly  preserved  Atticus  ;  the  one 
was  his  engaging  in  no  faction,  and  meddling  in 
no  public  business  ;  the  other  was  his  constant 
favouring  and  relieving  those  that  were  lowest ; 
which  was  ascribed,  by  such  as  prevailed,  to 
the  generosity  of  his  temper,  and  procured  him 
much  kindness  from  those  on  whom  he  had  ex- 
ercised his  bounty,  when  it  came  to  their  turn 
to  govern  ;  he  resolved  to  guide  himself  by 
those  rules  as  much  as  it  was  possible  for  him 
to  do. 

He  not  only  avoided  all  public  employment, 
but  the  very  talking  of  news  ;  and  was  always 


LIFE   OF    SIR   MATTHEW    HALE.  21 

both  favourable  and  charitable  to  those  who 
were  depressed,  and  was  sure  never  to  provoke 
any  in  particular,  by  censuring  or  reflecting  on 
their  actions  :  for  many  that  have  conversed 
much  with  him,  have  told  me  they  never  heard 
him  once  speak  ill  of  any  person. 

He  was  employed  in  his  practice  by  all  the 
king's  party  :  he  was  assigned  counsel  to  the 
Earl  of  Strafford,  and  Archbishop  Laud,  and 
afterward  to  the  blessed  king  himself,  when 
brought  to  the  infamous  pageantry  of  a  mock 
trial ;  and  offered  to  plead  for  him  with  all  the 
courage  that  so  glorious  a  cause  ou^ht  to  have 
inspired  him  with  ;  but  was  not  suffered  to  ap- 
pear, because  the  king  refusing,  as  he  had  good 
reason,  to  submit  to  the  court,  it  was  pretended 
none  could  be  admitted  to  speak  for  him.  He 
was  also  counsel  for  the  Duke  of  Hamilton,  the 
Earl  of  Holland,  and  the  Lord  Capcl.  His 
plea  for  the  former  of  these  I  have  published  in 
the  memoirs  of  that  duke's  life.  Afterward 
also  being  counsel  for  the  Lord  Craven,  he 
pleaded  with  that  force  of  argument,  that  the 
then  attorney- general  threatened  him  for  appear- 
ing against  government :  to  whom  he  answered, 
he  was  pleading  in  defence  of  those  laws  which 
they  declared  they  would  maintain  and  preserve  ; 
and  he  was  doing  his  duty  to  his  client  ;  so 
that  he  was  not  to  be  daunted  with  threatenings. 

Upon  all  these  occasions  he  had  discharged 
himself  with  so  much  learning,  tidelity,  and 
courage,  that  he  came  to  be  generally  employed 
for  all  that  party  :  nor  was  he  satistied  to  ap- 


22  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

pear  for  their  just  defence  in  the  way  of  his 
profession,  but  he  also  relieved  them  often  in 
their  necessities  ;  which  he  did  in  a  way  that 
was  no  less  prudent  than  charitable,  consider- 
ing the  dangers  of  that  time:  for  he  did  often 
deposit  considerable  sums  in  the  hands  of  a 
worthy  gentleman  of  the  king's  party,  who 
knew  their  necessities  well,  and  was  to  distri- 
bute his  charity  according  to  his  own  discretion, 
without  either  letting  them  know  from  whence 
it  came,  or  giving  himself  any  account  to  whom 
he  had  given  it. 

Cromwell  seeing  him  possessed  of  so  much 
practice,  and  he  being  one  of  the  most  eminent 
men  of  the  law,  who  was  not  at  all  afraid  of 
doing  his  duty  in  those  critical  times,  resolved 
to  take  him  off  from  it,  and  raise  him  to  the 
bench. 

Mr.  Hale  saw  well  enough  the  snare  laid  for 
him  :  and  though  he  did  not  much  consider  the 
prejudice  it  would  be  to  himself  to  exchange  the 
easy  and  safer  profits  he  had  by  his  practice,  for 
a  judge's  place  in  the  common  pleas,  which  he 
was  required  to  accept  of;  yet  he  did  delibe- 
rate more  on  the  lawfulness  of  taking  a  com- 
mission from  usurpers  :  but  having  considered 
well  of  this,  he  came  to  be  of  opinion,  that  it 
being  absolutely  necessary  to  have  justice  and 
property  kept  up  at  all  times,  it  was  no  sin  to 
take  a  commission  from  usurpers,  if  he  made 
no  declaration  of  his  acknowledging  their  au- 
thority ;  which  he  never  did.  He  was  much 
urged  to  accept  of  it  by  some  eminent  men  of 


LIFE    OF    SIR    UATTHKW    HALE.  23 

his  own  profession,  who  were  of  the  king's 
party ;  as  Sir  Orlando  Bridgeman,  and  Sir 
Geoffery  Palmer  ;  and  was  also  satisfied  con- 
cerning the  lawfulness  of  it,  by  the  resolution 
of  some  famous  divines,  in  particular  Dr.  Shel- 
don and  Dr.  Henchman,  who  were  afterward 
promoted  to  the  sees  of  Canterbury  and 
London. 

To  these  were  added  the  importunities  of  all 
his  friends  ;  who  thought  that  in  a  time  of  so 
much  danger  and  oppression,  it  might  be  no 
small  security  to  the  nation  to  have  a  man  of 
his  integrity  and  abilities  on  the  bench  :  and 
the  usurpers  themselves  held  him  in  that  esti- 
mation, that  they  were  glad  to  have  him  give  a 
countenance  to  their  courts  ;  and  by  promoting 
one  that  was  known  to  have  difl'erent  principles 
from  them,  aftected  the  reputation  of  honouring 
and  trusting  men  of  eminent  virtues,  of  what 
persuasion  soever  they  might  be  in  relation  to 
public  matters. 

But  he  had  greater  scruples  concerning  the 
proceeding  against  felons,  and  putting  offenders 
to  death  by  that  commission  ;  since  he  thought, 
the  sNvt)rd  of  justice  belonging  only  by  right  to 
the  lawful  prince,  it  seemed  not  warrantable  to 
proceed  to  a  capital  sentence  by  an  authority 
derived  from  usurpers.  Yet  at  first  he  made 
distinction  between  common  and  ordinary  felon- 
ies, and  off«;nct\s  aa;iinst  the  state  :  for  the  last, 
he  would  never  meddle  in  tliem  ;  for  he  thought 
these  might  i)e  often  leaal  and  warrantable  ac- 
tions, and  that  the  putting  men  to  death  on  that 


24  LIFE   OF    SIR   MATTHEW    HALE. 

account  was  murder.  But  for  the  ordinary- 
felonies,  he  at  first  was  of  opinion  that  it  was 
as  necessary,  even  in  times  of  usurpation,  to 
execute  justice  in  those  cases,  as  in  matters  of 
property.  But  after  the  king  was  murdered,  he 
laid  by  all  his  collections  of  the  pleas  of  the 
crown  ;  and  that  they  might  not  fall  into  ill 
hands,  he  hid  them  behind  the  wainscoting  of 
his  study  ;  for  he  said,  there  was  no  more  occa- 
sion to  use  them,  till  the  king  should  be  again 
restored  to  his  right ;  and  so,  upon  his  majesty's 
restoration,  he  took  them  out,  and  went  on  in 
his  design  to  perfect  that  great  work. 

Yet,  for  some  time  after  he  was  made  a  judge, 
when  he  went  the  circuit,  he  did  sit  on  the  crown 
side,  and  judged  criminals  :  but,  having  consi- 
dered farther  of  it,  he  came  to  think,  that  it  was 
at  least  better  not  to  do  it ;  and  so,  after  the 
second  or  third  circuit,  he  refused  to  sit  any 
more  on  the  crown  side,  and  told  plainly  the 
reason  ;  for  in  matters  of  blood  he  was  always 
to  choose  the  safer  side:  and  indeed  he  had  so 
carried  himself  in  some  trials,  that  they  were 
not  unwillinghe  should  withdraw  from  meddling 
farther  in  them  ;  of  which  I  shall  give  some  in- 
stances. 

Not  long  after  he  was  made  a  judge,  which 
was  in  the  year  1653,  when  he  went  the  circuit, 
a  trial  was  brought  before  him  at  Lincoln,  con- 
cerning the  murder  of  one  of  the  townsmen,  who 
had  been  of  the  king's  party,  and  was  killed  by 
a  soldier  of  the  garrison  there.  He  was  in  the 
fields   with  a  fowling-piece  on  his  shoulder ; 


LIFE    OF    SIR     MATTHEW    HALE.  25 

which  the  soldier  seeing,  he  came  to  him,  and 
said,  it  was  contrary  to  an  order  which  the  pro- 
tector had  made,  that  none  who  had  been  of  the 
king's  party  shoukl  carry  arms :  and  so  he  would 
have  forced  it  from  him  :  but  as  the  other  did 
not  regard  the  order,  so  being  stronger  than  the 
soldier  he  threw  him  down,  and  having  beat 
him,  he  left  him.  The  soldier  went  into  the 
town,  and  told  one  of  his  fellow-soldiers  how  he 
had  been  used,  and  got  him  to  go  with  him,  and 
lie  in  wait  for  the  man  that  he  might  be  avenged 
on  him.  They  both  watched  his  coming  to 
town,  and  one  of  them  went  to  him  to  demand 
his  gun  ;  which  he  refusing,  the  soldier  struck 
at  him  ;  and  as  they  were  struggling,  the  other 
came  behind,  and  ran  his  sword  into  his  body, 
of  which  he  presently  died.  It  was  in  the  time 
of  the  assizes,  so  they  were  both  tried.  Against 
the  one  there  was  no  evidence  of  forethought 
felony,  so  he  was  only  found  guilty  of  man- 
slaughter, and  burned  on  the  hand  ;  but  the 
other  was  found  guilty  of  murder.  And  though 
Colonel  Whaley,  that  commanded  the  garrison, 
camo  into  the  court,  and  urged  that  the  man 
was  killed  only  for  disobeying  the  protector's 
order,  and  that  the  soldier  was  but  doing  his 
duty,  yet  the  judge  regarded  both  his  reason 
and  ihreatenings  very  little  ;  and  therefore  he 
not  only  gave  sentt?nce  against  him,  but  order- 
ed the  execution  to  be  so  suddenly  done  that  it 
might  not  be  possible  to  procure  a  reprieve  ; 
which  he  believed  would  have  been  obtained, 
if  there  had  been  time  enough  granted  for  it. 


26  LIFE    OF    SIR    .MATTHEW    HALE. 

xA.nother  occasion  was  given  him  of  showing 
both  his  justice  and  coinage,  when  he  was  in 
another  circuit.  He  understood  that  the  pro- 
tector had  ordered  a  jury  to  be  returned  for  trial, 
in  which  he  was  more  than  ordinarily  concern- 
ed. Upon  this  information,  he  examined  the 
sheriff  about  it,  who  knew  nothing  of  it ;  for  he 
said  he  referred  all  such  things  to  the  under- 
sheriff:  and  having  next  asked  the  under-sheriff 
concerning  it,  he  found  the  jury  had  been  re- 
turned by  order  from  Cromwell :  upon  which 
he  showed  the  statute,  that  all  juries  ought  to 
be  returned  by  the  sherifi',  or  his  lawful  officer ; 
and  this  not  being  done  according  to  law,  he 
dismissed  the  jury,  and  would  not  try  the  cause  ; 
upon  which  the  protector  was  highly  displeased 
with  him,  and  at  his  return  from  his  circuit,  he 
told  him  in  anger,  he  was  not  fit  to  be  a  judge  : 
to  which  all  the  answer  he  made  was,  that  it 
was  very  true. 

Another  thing  met  him  in  the  circuit,  upon 
which  he  resolved  to  proceed  severely.  Some 
Anabaptists  had  rushed  into  a  church,  and  had 
disturbed  a  congregation  while  they  were  re- 
ceiving the  Lord's  supper,  not  without  some 
violence.  At  this  he  was  highly  oflended  ;  for 
he  said,  It  was  intolerable  for  men,  who  pre- 
tended so  highly  to  liberty  of  conscience,  to  go 
and  disturb  others ;  especially  those  who  had  the 
encouragement  of  the  law  on  their  side.  But 
these  were  so  supported  by  some  great  magis- 
trates and  officers,  that  a  stop  was  put  to  his 
proceedings  ;  upon  which  he  declared,  he  would 


LIFE    OF    SIU    MATTHEW    HALE.  27 

meddle  no  more  with  the  triuls  on  the  crown 
side. 

When  Penriiddock's  trial  was  brou)^ht  on, 
there  was  a  special  messenger  sent  to  him,  re- 
quiring him  to  assist  at  it.  It  was  in  vacation 
time,  and  he  was  at  his  country  house  at  Alder- 
ley.  He  plainly  refused  to  go,  and  said,  the 
four  terms  and  two  circuits  were  enough,  and  the 
little  interval  that  was  between  was  little  enough 
for  their  private  aff\iirs  ;  and  so  he  excused  him- 
self. He  thought  it  was  not  necessary  to  speak, 
more  clearly  ;  but  if  he  had  been  urged  to  it,  he 
would  not  have  been  afraid  of  doing  it. 

He  was  at  that  lime  chosen  a  parliament  man, 
(for  there  being  then  no  house  of  lords,  judges 
might  have  been  chosen  to  sit  in  the  house  of 
commons,)  and  he  went  to  it,  on  design  to  ob- 
struct the  mad  and  wicked  projects  then  on 
foot  by  two  parties,  that  had  very  diflerent  prin- 
ciples and  ends. 

On  the  one  hand,  some  that  were  perhaps 
more  sincere,  yet  were  really  brainsick,  de- 
signed they  knew  not  what,  being  resolved  to 
pull  down  a  standing  ministry,  the  law  and  pro- 
})erty  of  England,  and  all  the  ancient  rules  of 
this  government,  and  set  up  on  its  room  an  in- 
digested enthusiastical  scheme,  which  they 
called  "  the  kingdom  of  Christ,"  or  of  his  saints  ; 
many  of  them  being  really  in  expectation,  that 
one  day  or  another  Christ  would  come  down 
and  sit  among  them  ;  and  at  least  they  thoujrht 
to  begin  the  glorious  thousand  years  mentioned 
in  the  Revelation. 


28  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW   HALE. 

Others  at  the  same  time  taking  advantages 
from  the  fears  and  apprehensions  that  all  the 
sober  men  of  the  nation  were  in,  lest  they  should 
fall  under  the  t\Tanny  of  a  distracted  sort  of 
people,  who,  to  all  their  other  ill  principles 
added  great  cruelty,  which  they  had  copied 
from  those  at  Munster  in  the  former  age,  in- 
tended to  improve  that  opportunity  to  raise  their 
own  fortunes  and  families.  x\midst  these  Judge 
Hale  steered  a  middle  course  ;  for  as  he  would 
engage  for  neither  side,  so  he,  with  a  great 
many  more  worthy  men,  came  to  parliaments 
more  out  of  a  design  to  hinder  mischief,  than 
to  do  much  good  ;  wisely  foreseeing,  that  the 
inclinations  for  the  royal  family  were  daily 
growing  so  much,  that  in  time  the  disorders 
then  in  agitation  would  ferment  to  that  happy 
resolution  in  which  they  determined  in  May, 
1660.  And  therefore  all  that  could  be  then 
done  was  to  oppose  the  ill  designs  of  both  par- 
ties, the  enthusiasts  as  well  as  usurpers.  Among 
the  other  e.xtravagant  motions  made  in  this  par- 
hament,  one  was  to  destroy  all  the  records  in 
the  Tower,  and  to  settle  the  nation  on  a  new 
foundation  :  so  he  took  this  province  to  himself, 
to  show  the  madness  of  this  proposition,  the  in- 
justice of  it,  and  the  mischiefs  that  would  fol- 
low on  it ;  and  did  it  with  such  clearness  and 
strength  of  reason,  as  not  only  satisfied  all  sober 
persons,  (for  it  may  be  supposed  that  was  soon 
done.)  but  stopped  even  the  mouth  of  the  fran- 
tic people  themselves. 

Thus  he  continued  administering  justice  till 


LIFE    OF    SIR     MATTHEW    HALE.  29 

the  protector  died  ;  but  then  he  both  refused 
the  mournings  that  were  sent  to  him  and  his 
servants  for  the  funeral,  and  likewise  to  accept 
of  the  new  commission  that  was  offered  him  by 
Richard  ;  and  when  the  rest  of  the  judges  urged 
it  upon  him,  and  employed  others  to  press  him 
to  accept  of  it,  he  rejected  all  their  importuni- 
ties, and  said  he  could  act  no  longer  under  such 
authority. 

He  lived  a  private  man  till  the  parliament  met 
that  called  home  the  king,  to  which  he  was  re- 
turned knight  of  the  shire  from  the  county  of 
Gloucester.  It  appeared  at  that  time  how  much 
he  was  beloved  and  esteemed  in  his  neighbour- 
hood ;  for  though  another  who  stood  in  compe- 
tition with  him  had  spent  near  a  thousand 
pounds  to  procure  voices,  a  great  sum  to  be 
employed  that  way  in  those  days,  and  he 
had  been  at  no  cost  ;  and  was  so  far  from  so- 
liciting it,  that  he  had  stood  out  long  against 
those  who  pressed  him  to  appear ;  and  he 
did  not  promise  to  appear  till  three  days  before 
the  election,  yet  he  was  preferred.  He  was 
brought  thither  almost  by  violence,  by  the  lord 
(now  earl  of)  Berkely,  who  bore  all  the  charge 
of  the  entertainments  on  the  day  of  his  election, 
which  was  considerable,  and  had  engaged  all 
his  friends  and  interest  for  him.  And  whereas 
by  the  writ,  the  knight  of  a  shire  must  be  miles 
gladio  cinctus,  and  he  had  no  sword,  that  noble 
lord  girt  him  with  his  own  sword  during  the 
election  :  but  he  was  soon  weary  of  it ;  for  the 
embroidery  of  the  belt  did  not  suit  well  with 


30  LIFK    OF   SIR    MATTHEW   HALE. 

the  plainness  of  his  clothes  :  and  indeed  the 
election  did  not  hold  long ;  for  as  soon  as  ever 
he  came  into  the  field,  he  was  chosen  by  much 
the  greater  number,  though  the  poll  continued 
for  three  or  four  days. 

In  that  parliament  he  bore  his  share  in  the 
happy  period  tlien  put  to  the  confusions  that 
threatened  the  utter  ruin  of  the  nation ;  which, 
contrary  to  the  expectation*  of  the  most  san- 
guine, settled  in  so  serene  and  quiet  a  manner, 
that  those  who  had  formerly  built  so  much  on 
their  success,  calling  it  an  answer  from  heaven 
to  their  solemn  appeals  to  the  providence  of 
God,  were  now  not  a  little  confounded  to  see  all 
this  turned  against  themselves,  in  an  instance 
much  more  extraordinary  than  any  of  those 
were,  upon  which  they  had  built  so  much.  His 
great  prudence  and  excellent  temper  led  him  to 
think,  that  the  sooner  an  act  of  indemnity  were 
passed,  and  the  fuller  it  were  of  graces  and 
favours,  it  would  sooner  settle  the  nation,  and 
quiet  the  minds  of  the  people  ;  and  therefore  he 
applied  himself  with  a  particular  care  to  the 
framing  and  carrying  it  on ;  in  which  it  was 
visible  he  had  no  concern  of  his  own,  but  merely 
his  love  of  the  public  that  set  him  on  it. 

Soon  after  this,  when  the  courts  in  Westmin- 
ster Hall  came  to  be  settled,  he  was  made  lord 
chief  baron  ;  and  when  the  earl  of  Clarendon 
(then  lord  chancellor)  delivered  him  his  com- 
mission, in  the  speech  he  made,  according  to 
the  custom  on  such  occasions,  he  expressed  his 
esteem  of  him  in  a  very  singular  manner  ;  tell- 


LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  31 

ing  him,  among  other  things,  that  if  the  king 
coukl  have  found  out  an  honester  and  fitter  man 
for  that  employment,  he  would  not  have  ad- 
vanced him  to  it ;  and  that  he  had  therefore 
preferred  him,  because  he  knew  none  that  de 
served  it  so  well.  It  is  ordinary  for  persons  so 
promoted  to  be  knighted ;  but  he  desired  to 
avoid  having  that  honour  done  him,  and  there- 
fore for  a  considerable  time  declined  all  oppor- 
tunities of  waiting  on  the  king  ;  which  the  lord 
chancellor  observing,  sent  for  him  upon  busi- 
ness one  day,  when  the  king  was  at  his  house, 
and  told  his  majesty,  there  was  his  modest 
chief  baron,  upon  wliich  he  was  unexpectedly 
knighted. 

He  continued  eleven  years  in  that  place, 
managing  the  court  and  all  proceedings  in 
it,  with  singular  justice.  It  was  observed  by 
the  whole  nation  how  much  he  raised  the  repu- 
tation and  practice  of  it ;  and  those  who  held 
places  and  offices  in  it  can  all  declare,  not  only 
the  impartiality  of  his  justice,  for  that  is  but  a 
common  virtue,  but  his  generosity,  his  vast 
diligence,  and  his  great  exactness  in  trials. 
Tiiis  gave  occasion  to  the  only  complaint  that 
ever  was  made  of  him,  that  he  did  not  despatch 
matters  quick  enough.  But  the  great  care  he 
used  to  put  suits  to  a  final  end,  as  it  made  him 
slower  in  deciding  them,  so  it  had  this  good 
efiect, — that  causes  tried  before  him  were  sel- 
dom, if  ever,  tried  again. 

Nor  did  his  administration  of  justice  lie  only 
in  that  court  :  he  was  one  of  the  principal  judges 


32  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

that  sat  in  Clifford's  Inn,  about  settling  the  dif- 
ference between  landlord  and  tenant,  after  the 
dreadful  fire  of  London  ;  he  being  the  first  that 
offered  his  service  to  the  city,  for  accommodating 
all  the  differences  that  might  have  arisen  about 
the  rebuilding  of  it ;  in  which  he  behaved  himself 
to  the  satisfaction  of  all  persons  concerned  :  so 
that  the  sudden  and  quiet  building  of  the  city, 
which  is  justly  to  be  reckoned  one  of  the  won- 
ders of  the  age,  is  in  no  small  measure  due  to  the 
great  care  which  he  and  Sir  Orlando  Bridgeman 
(then  lord  chief  justice  of  the  common  pleas, 
afterward  lord  keeper  of  the  great  seal  of  Eng- 
land) used,  and  to  the  judgment  they  showed 
in  that  affair  ;  since,  without  the  rules  then  laid 
down,  there  might  have  otherwise  followed  such 
an  endless  train  of  vexatious  suits,  as  might  have 
been  little  less  chargeable  than  the  fire  itself  had 
been.  But  without  detracting  from  the  labours 
of  the  other  judges,  it  must  be  acknowledged, 
that  he  w^as  the  most  instrumental  in  that  great 
work  ;  for  he  first,  by  way  of  scheme,  contrived 
the  rules  upon  which  he  and  the  rest  proceeded 
afterward  ;  in  which  his  readiness  at  arithmetic, 
and  his  skill  in  architecture,  were  of  great  use 
to  him. 

But  it  will  not  seem  strange  that  a  judge  be- 
haved himself  as  he  did,  who  at  the  entry  into 
his  employment  set  such  excellent  rules  to 
himself,  which  will  appear  in  the  following 
paper,  copied  from  the  original  under  his  own 
hand : — 


LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  33 

Things   necessary   to    be    continiialhj  had  in 
rcmeinbrancc. 

1.  That  in  the  administration  of  justice,  I  am 
intrusted  for  God,  the  king,  and  country ;  and 
therefore, 

2.  That  it  be  done,  (1.)  Uprightly,  (2.)  De- 
liberately, (3.)  Resolutely. 

3.  That  I  rest  not  upon  my  own  understand- 
ing or  strength  ;  but  implore  and  rest  upon  the 
direction  and  strength  of  God. 

4.  That  in  the  execution  of  justice  I  care- 
fully lay  aside  my  own  passions,  and  not  give 
way  to  them,  however  provoked. 

5.  That  I  be  wholly  intent  upon  the  business 
I  am  about,  remitting  all  other  cares  and 
thoughts  as  unseasonable,  and  interruptions. 

6.  That  I  suffer  not  myself  to  be  prepossess- 
ed with  any  judgment  at  all,  till  the  whole 
business  and  both  parties  be  heard. 

7.  That  I  never  engage  myself  in  the  begin- 
ning of  any  cause,  but  reserve  myself  unpreju- 
dii-ed  till  the  whole  be  heard. 

8.  That  in  business  capital,  though  my  na- 
ture prompt  me  to  pity,  yet  to  consider,  that 
there  is  also  a  pity  due  tc  *he  country. 

9.  That  I  be  not  too  rigid  in  matters  purely 
conscientious,  where  all  the  harm  is  diversity 
of  judgment. 

10.  That  I  be  not  biassed  with  compassion 
to  the  poor,  or  favour  to  the  rich,  in  point  of 
justice. 

11.  That  popular  or  court  applause  or  dis- 

3 


34  LIFE    OF    SIR    JIATTHEW    HALE. 

taste  have  no  influence  into  any  thing  I  do  in 
point  of  distribution  of  justice. 

12.  Not  to  be  solicitous  what  men  will  say 
or  think,  so  long  as  I  keep  myself  exactly  ac- 
cording to  the  rules  of  justice. 

13.  If  in  criminals  it  be  a  measuring  cast,  to 
incline  to  mercy  and  acquittal. 

14.  In  criminals  that  consist  merely  in  words, 
when  no  harm  ensues,  moderation  is  no  in- 
justice. 

15.  In  criminals  of  blood,  if  the  fact  be  evi- 
dent, severity  of  justice. 

16.  To  abhor  all  private  solicitations,  of 
what  kind  soever,  and  by  whomsoever,  in  mat- 
ters depending. 

17.  To  charge  my  servants,  (1.)  Not  to  in- 
terpose in  any  business  whatsoever.  (2.)  Not 
to  take  more  than  their  known  fees.  (3.)  Not 
to  give  any  imdue  precedence  to  causes.  (4.) 
Not  to  recommend  counsel. 

18.  To  be  short  and  sparing  at  meals,  that  J 
mav  be  the  fitter  for  business. 


CHAPTER  III. 

He  would  never  receive  private  addresses  or 
recommendations  from  the  greatest  persons  in 
any  matter,  in  which  justice  was  concerned. 
One  of  the  first  peers  of  England  went  once  to 
his  chamber,  and  told  him,  that  having  a  suit  in 
law  to  be  tried  before  him,  he  was  then  to  ac- 


LIFE   OF    SIR    MATTffKW    HALE.  35 

quaint  him  with  it,  that  he  might  the  better  un- 
derstand it,  when  it  should  come  to  be  heard  in 
court.  Upon  which  the  k)rd  chief  baron  inter- 
rupted him,  and  said,  he  did  not  deal  fairly  to 
come  to  his  chamber  about  such  affairs  ;  for  he 
never  received  any  information  of  causes  but  in 
open  court,  where  both  parties  were  to  be  heard 
alike  ;  so  he  would  not  suffer  him  to  go  on. 
Whereupon  his  grace  (for  he  was  a  duke)  went 
away  not  a  little  dissatisfied,  and  complained  of 
it  to  the  king,  as  a  rudeness  that  was  not  to  be 
endured.  But  his  majesty  bade  him  content 
himself  that  he  was  no  worse  used  ;  and  said, 
he  verily  believed  he  would  have  used  himself 
no  better,  if  he  had  gone  to  solicit  him  in  any 
of  his  own  causes. 

Another  passage  fell  out  in  one  of  his  circuits, 
which  was  somewhat  censured  as  an  affectation 
of  an  unreasonable  strictness  ;  but  it  flowed 
from  his  exactness  to  the  rules  he  had  set  him- 
self. A  gentleman  had  sent  him  a  buck  for  his 
table,  that  had  a  trial  at  the  assizes  ;  so  when 
he  heard  his  name,  he  asked  if  he  was  not  the 
same  person  that  had  sent  him  venison  ;  and 
finding  he  was  the  same,  he  told  him  he  could 
not  suffer  the  trial  to  go  on  till  he  had  paid  him 
for  his  buck.  To  which  the  gentleman  an- 
swered, that  he  never  sold  his  venison  ;  and 
that  he  had  done  nothing  to  him  which  he  did 
not  do  to  every  judge  that  had  gone  that  circuit; 
which  was  confirmed  by  several  gentlemen 
then  present :  but  ail  would  not  do  ;  for  the 
lord  chief  baron  had  learned  from  Solomon,  that 


36  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

"  a  gift  perverteth  the  ways  of  judgment ;"  and 
therefore  he  would  not  suffer  the  trial  to  go  on, 
till  he  had  paid  for  the  present,  upon  which  the 
gentleman  withdrew  the  record.  And  at  Salis- 
bury, the  dean  and  chapter,  having,  according 
to  custom,  presented  him  with  six  sugar-loaves 
in  his  circuit,  he  made  his  servants  pay  for  the 
sugar  before  he  would  try  their  cause. 

It  was  not  so  easy  for  him  to  throw  off  the 
importunities  of  the  poor,  for  whom  his  com- 
passion wrought  more  powerfully  than  his 
regard  to  wealth  and  greatness  ;  yet,  when  jus- 
tice was  concerned,  even  that  did  not  turn  him 
out  of  the  way.  There  was  one  that  had  been 
put  out  of  a  place  for  some  ill  behaviour,  who 
urged  the  lord  chief  baron  to  set  his  hand  to  a 
certificate  to  restore  him  to  it,  or  provide  him 
with  another  ;  but  he  told  him  plainly  his  fault 
was  such  that  he  could  not  do  it.  The  other 
pressed  him  vehemently,  and  fell  down  on  his 
knees,  and  begged  it  of  him  with  many  tears  ; 
but  finding  that  could  not  prevail,  he  said  he 
should  be  utterly  ruined  if  he  did  not,  and 
he  should  curse  him  for  it  every  day.  But 
that  having  no  effect,  then  he  fell  out  into  all  the 
reproachful  words  that  passion  and  despair 
could  inspire  him  with  ;  to  which  all  the  an- 
swer the  lord  chief  baron  made  was,  that  he 
could  very  well  bear  all  his  reproaches,  but  he 
could  not  for  all  that  set  his  hand  to  his  certifi- 
cate. He  saw  he  was  poor,  so  he  gave  him  a 
large  charity  and  sent  him  away. 

But  now  he  was  to  go  on  after  his  pattern. 


LIFE    OK   SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  37 

Pomponius  Alticiis,  still  to  favour  and  relieve 
them  that  were  lowest ;  so  besides  great  chari- 
ties to  the  nonconformists,  who  were  then,  as 
lie  thought,  too  hardly  used,  he  took  great  care 
to  coyer  them  all  he  could  from  the  severities 
some  designed  against  them,  and  discouraged 
those  who  were  inclined  to  stretch  the  laws  too 
much  against  them.  He  lamented  the  differ- 
ences that  were  raised  in  the  church  very  much; 
and,  according  to  the  impartiality  of  his  justice, 
he  blamed  some  things  on  both  sides,  which  1 
shall  set  down  with  the  same  freedom  that  he 
spake  them.  He  thought  many  of  the  noncon- 
formists had  merited  highly  in  the  business  of 
the  king's  restoration,  and  at  least  deserved  that 
the  terms  of  conformity  should  not  have  been 
made  stricter  than  they  were  before  the  war. 
There  was  not  then  that  dreadful  prospect  of 
popery  that  has  appeared  since.  But  that  which 
afflicted  him  most  was,  that  he  saw  the  heats 
and  contentions  which  followed  upon  those  dif- 
ferent parties  and  interests,  did  take  people  off 
from  the  indispenable  things  of  religion,  and 
slackened  the  zeal  of  otherwise  good  men  for 
the  substance  of  it ;  so  much  being  spent  about 
external  and  indinereiit  things.  It  also  gave 
advantages  to  atheists  to  treat  the  most  sacred 
points  of  our  holy  faith  as  ridiculous,  when  they 
saw  the  professors  of  it  contend  so  fiercely,  and 
with  such  bitterness,  about  lesser  matters.  He 
was  nuich  offended  at  all  those  books  that  were 
written  to  expose  the  contrary  sect  to  the  scorn 
and  contempt  of  the  age,  in  a  wanton  and  petu- 


38  LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

lant  style.  He  thought  such  writers  wounded 
the  Christian  religion  through  the  sides  of  those 
who  differed  from  them ;  while  a  sort  of  lewd 
people,  who,  having  assumed  to  themselves  the 
title  of  the  "  Wits,"  (though  but  a  very  few  of 
them  have  a  right  to  it,)  took  up  from  both  hands 
what  they  had  said,  to  make  one  another  appear 
ridiculous ;  and  from  thence  persuaded  the  world 
to  laugh  at  both,  and  at  all  religion  for  their 
sakes ;  and,  therefore,  he  often  wished  there 
might  be  some  law  to  make  all  scurrility  or  bit- 
terness in  disputes  about  religion  punishable. 
But  as  he  lamented  the  proceeding  too  rigor- 
ously against  the  nonconfoniiists,  so  he  declared 
himself  always  on  the  side  of  the  Church  of 
England  ;  and  said,  those  of  the  separation  were 
good  men,  but  they  had  narrow  souls,  who 
would  break  the  peace  of  the  church  about 
such  inconsiderable  matters  as  the  points  in 
difference  w-ere. 

He  scarcely  ever  meddled  in  state  intrigues  ; 
yet,  upon  a  proposition  that  w^as  set  on  foot  by 
the  Lord  Keeper  Bridgeman,  for  a  comprehen- 
sion of  the  more  moderate  dissenters,  and  a 
limited  indulgence  toward  such  as  could  not  be 
brought  within  the  comprehension,  he  dispensed 
with  his  maxim  of  avoiding  to  engage  in  mat- 
ters of  state.  There  were  several  meetings 
upon  that  occasion.  The  divine  of  the  Church 
of  England  that  appeared  most  considerably  for 
it,  was  Dr.  Wilkins,  afterward  promoted  to  the 
bishopric  of  Chester ;  a  man  of  as  great  a 
mind,  as  true  a  judgment,  as  eminent  virtues, 


LIFE    OF   Sill    MATTHEW    HALE.  39 

and  of  as  ^ood  a  soul,  as  any  I  ever  knew.  He 
being-  determined  as  well  by  his  excellent  tem- 
per, as  by  his  foresight  and  prudence,  by  which 
he  early  perceived  the  great  prejudices  that  re- 
lii{ion  received,  and  the  vast  dangers  the  refor- 
mation was  likely  to  fall  under  by  those  divi- 
sions, set  about  that  project  with  the  magnanimity 
that  was  indeed  peculiar  to  himself;  for  though 
he  was  much  censured  by  many  of  his  own 
side,  and  seconded  by  very  few,  yet  he  pushed 
it  as  far  as  he  could.  After  several  conferences 
with  two  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian divines,  heads  were  agreed  on,  some  abate- 
ments were  to  be  made,  and  explanations  were 
to  be  accepted  of.  The  particulars  of  that  pro- 
ject beinsf  thus  concerted,  they  were  brought  to 
the  lord  chief  baron,  who  put  them  in  form  of  a 
bill,  to  be  presented  to  tlie  next  session  of  par- 
liament. 

But  two  parties  appeared  vigorously  against 
this  design  :  the  one  was  of  some  zealous  cler- 
gymen, who  thouLdit  it  below  the  dignity  of  the 
church  to  alter  laws,  and  change  settlements, 
for  the  sake  of  some  whom  they  esteemed 
schismatics.  They  also  believed  it  was  better 
to  keep  them  out  of  the  church  than  bring  them 
into  it,  .since  a  faction  U}X)n  that  would  arise  in 
the  church,  which  they  thought  might  be  more 
dangerous  than  the  schism  itself  was.  Besides, 
thoy  said,  if  some  things  were  now  to  be 
changed  in  compliance  with  the  humour  of  a 
party,  as  soon  as  that  was  done,  another  })arty 
might  demand   other   concessions  ;    and   there 


40  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

might  be  as  good  reasons  invented  for  these  as 
for  those  ;  many  such  concessions  might  also 
shake  those  of  our  own  communion,  and  tempt 
them  to  forsake  us,  and  go  over  to  the  Church 
of  Rome  ;  pretending  that  we  changed  so  often, 
that  they  were  thereby  inclined  to  be  of  a 
church  that  was  constant  and  true  to  herself. 
These  were  the  reasons  brought,  and  chiefly 
insisted  on,  against  all  comprehension  ;  and 
they  wrought  upon  the  greater  part  of  the 
house  of  commons,  so  that  they  passed  a 
vote  against  the  receiving  of  any  bill  for  that 
effect. 

There  were  others  that  opposed  it  upon  very 
different  ends  :  they  designed  to  sheUer  the 
papists  from  the  execution  of  the  law,  and  saw 
clearly  that  nothing  could  bring  in  popery  so 
well  as  a  toleration.  But  to  tolerate  popery 
barefaced  would  have  startled  the  nation  too 
much  ;  so  it  was  necessary  to  hinder  all  the 
propositions  for  union,  since  the  keeping  up  the 
differences  was  the  best  colour  they  could  find 
for  getting  the  toleration  to  pass  only  as  a  slack- 
ening the  laws  against  dissenters,  whose  num- 
bers and  wealth  made  it  advisable  to  have  some 
regard  to  them  ;  and  under  this  pretence  popery 
might  have  crept  in  more  covered  and  less  re- 
garded. So  these  counsels  being  more  accept- 
able to  some  concealed  papists  then  in  great 
power,  as  has  since  appeared  but  too  evidently, 
the  whole  project  for  comprehension  was  let 
fall ;  and  those  who  had  set  it  on  foot  came  to 
be  looked  on  with  an  ill  eve,  as  secret  favour- 


LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHKW    HALE.  41 

ers  of  the  dissenters,  underminers  of  the  church, 
and  every  thiii^  else  that  jealousy  and  distaste 
could  cast  on  them. 

But  upon  this  occasion  the  lord  chief  baron 
and  Dr.  Wilkins  came  to  contract  a  firm  and 
familiar  friendship  ;  and  the  lord  chief  baron 
having  much  business,  and  little  time  to  spare, 
did,  to  enjoy  the  other  the  more,  what  he  had 
scarcely  ever  done  before  ;  he  went  sometimes 
to  dine  with  him.  And  though  he  lived  in  great 
friendship  with  some  other  eminent  clergymen, 
as  Dr.  Ward,  bishop  of  Salisbury  ;  Dr.  Barlow, 
bishop  of  J.incoln  ;  Dr.  Barrow,  late  master  of 
Trinity  CJollege  ;  Dr.  Tillotson,  dean  of  Canter- 
bury, and  Dr.  Stillingfleet,  dean  of  St.  Paul's  ; 
(men  so  well  known,  and  so  much  esteemed, 
that  as  it  was  no  wonder  the  lord  chief  baron 
valued  their  conversation  highly,  so  those  of 
them  that  are  yet  alive  will  think  it  no  lessening 
of  the  character  they  are  so  deservedly  in,  that 
they  are  reckoned  among  Judge  Hale's  friends  ;) 
yet  there  was  an  intimacy  and  freedom  in  his 
converse  with  Bishop  Wilkins,  that  was  singu- 
lar to  him  alone.  He  had,  during  the  late  wars, 
lived  in  a  long  and  entire  friendship  with  the 
apostolical  primate  of  Ireland,  Bishop  Usher : 
their  curious  searches  into  antiquity,  and  the 
sympathy  of  both  their  tempers,  led  them  to  a 
gTcat  agreement  almost  in  every  thing.  He 
held  also  great  conversation  with  Mr.  Baxter, 
who  was  his  neighbour  at  Acton,  on  whom  he 
looked  as  a  person  of  frreat  devotion  and  piety, 
and  of  a  very  subtile  and  quick  apprehension  : 


42  LIFE    OF   SIR    .MAITHEAV    HALE. 

their  conversation  lay  most  in  metaphysical  and 
abstracted  ideas  and  schemes. 

He  looked  with  great  sorrow  on  the  impiety 
and  atheism  of  the  age  ;  and  so  he  set  himself 
to  oppose  it,  not  only  by  the  shining  example 
of  his  own  life,  but  by  engaging  in  a  cause  that 
indeed  could  hardly  fall  into  better  hands  :  and 
as  he  could  not  find  a  subject  more  worthy  of 
himself,  so  there  were  (ew  in  the  age  that  un- 
derstood it  so  well,  and  could  manage  it  more 
skilfully.  The  occasion  that  first  led  him  to 
write  about  it  was  this  :  he  was  a  strict  ob- 
server of  the  Lord's  day  ;  in  which,  besides  his 
constancy  in  the  public  worship  of  God,  he 
used  to  call  all  his  family  together,  and  repeat  to 
them  the  heads  of  the  sermons,  with  some  addi- 
tions of  his  own,  which  he  fitted  for  their  capa- 
cities and  circumstances  ;  and  that  being  done, 
he  had  a  custom  of  shutting  himself  up  for  two 
or  three  hours  ;  which  he  either  spent  in  his 
secret  devotions,  or  on  such  profitable  medita- 
tions as  did  then  occur  to  his  thoughts.  He 
wrote  them  with  the  same  simplicity  that  he 
formed  them  in  his  mind,  without  any  art,  or  so 
much  as  a  thought  to  let  them  be  published. 
He  never  corrected  them  ;  but  laid  them  by, 
when  he  had  finished  them,  having  intended 
only  to  fix  and  preserve  his  own  refiections  in 
them  ;  so  that  he  used  no  sort  of  care  to  polish 
them,  or  make  the  first  draught  perfecter  than 
when  they  fell  from  his  pen.  These  fell  into 
the  hands  of  a  worthy  person,  and  he  judging, 
as  well  he  miaht.  that  the  couununicatinir  them 


LIFE    OF    SIR    .MATTHEW    HALE.  43 

to  the  world  mi^ht  be  a  public  service,  printed 
two  volumes  of  them  in  octavo,  a  little  before 
the  author's  death  ;  containing  his 

CONTEMPLATIONS. 

1.  Of  our  latter  end. 

2.  Of  wisdom,  and  the  fear  of  God. 

3.  Of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  crucified. 

4.  The  victory  of  faith  over  the  world. 

5.  Of  humility. 

6.  Jacob's  vow. 

7.  Of  contentalion. 

8.  Of  afflictions. 

9.  A  good  method  to  entertain  unstable  and 

troublesome  times. 

10.  Changes  and  troubles  :  a  poem. 

11.  Of  the  redemption  of  time. 

12.  The  great  audit. 

13.  Directions  touching  keeping  the  Lord's 

day  :  in  a  letter  to  his  children. 

14.  Poems  written  upon  Christmas  day. 

In  the  second  Volume. 

1.  An  inquiry  touching  happiness. 

2.  The  chief  end  of  man. 

3.  Upon    Eccles.    xii,    1,    Remember    thy 

Creator. 

4.  Upon  Psalm  h,  10,  Create  a  clean  heart  in 

me.     With  a  poem. 

5.  The  folly  and  mischief  of  sin. 

6.  Of  self-denial. 

7.  Motives  to  watchfulness,  in  reference  to 

the  good  and  evil  angels. 


44  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

8.  Of  moderation  of  the  affections. 

9.  Of  worldly  hope  and  expectation. 

10.  Upon  Heb.  xiii,    14,  We  have   here  no 

continuing"  city. 

11.  Of  contentedness  and  patience. 

12.  Of  moderation  of  anger. 

13.  A  preparative  against  afflictions. 

14.  Of  submission,  prayer,  and  thanksgiving. 

15.  Of  prayer   and  thanksgiving,  on  Psalm 

cxvi,  12. 

16.  Meditations  on  the  Lord's  prayer,  with  a 

paraphrase  upon  it. 

In  them  there  appears  a  generous  and  true 
spirit  of  religion,  mixed  with  most  serious  and 
fervent  devotion  ;  and  perhaps  with  the  more 
advantage,  that  the  style  wants  some  correction, 
which  shows  they  were  the  genuine  productions 
of  an  excellent  mind,  entertaining  itself  in  secret 
with  such  contemplations.  The  style  is  clear 
and  masculine,  in  a  due  temper  between  flatness 
and  affectation  ;  in  which  he  expresses  his 
thoughts  both  easily  and  decently.  In  writing 
these  discourses,  having  run  over  most  of  the 
subjects  that  his  own  circumstances  led  liim 
chiefly  to  consider,  he  began  to  be  in  some 
pain  to  choose  new  arguments ;  and  therefore 
resolved  to  fix  on  a  theme  that  should  hold  hitn 
longer. 

He  was  soon  determined  in  his  choice,  by 
the  immoral  and  irreligious  principles  and  prac- 
tices that  had  so  long  vexed  his  righteous  soul ; 
and   therefore    began    a   great    design    against 


LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  45 

atheism  ;  the  first  part  of  which  only  is  printed, 
of  the  ''Origination  of  Mankind,"  designed  to 
prove  the  creation  of  the  world,  and  the  truth  of 
the  Mosaical  history. 

The  second  part  was  of  the  nature  of  the  soul, 
and  of  a  future  state. 

The  third  part  was  concerning  the  attributes 
of  God,  both  from  the  abstracted  ideas  of  him, 
and  the  light  of  nature,  the  evidence  of  Provi- 
dence, the  notions  of  morality,  and  the  voice  of 
conscience. 

And  the  fourth  part  was  concerning  the  truth 
and  authority  of  the  Scriptures,  with  answers  to 
the  objections  against  them.  On  writing  these 
he  spent  seven  years.  He  wrote  them  with  so 
much  consideration,  that  one,  M'ho  perused  the 
oriijinal  under  his  own  hand,  which  was  the 
first  draught  of  it,  told  me,  he  did  not  remem- 
ber of  any  considerable  alteration,  perhaps  not 
of  twenty  words  in  the  whole  work. 

The  way  of  his  writing  them,  only  on  the  eve- 
nings of  the  Lord's  day,  when  he  was  in  town, 
and  not  much  oftener  when  he  was  in  the  coun- 
try, made,  that  they  are  not  so  contracted,  as  it 
is  very  likely  he  would  have  writ  them,  if  he 
had  been  more  at  leisure  to  have  brought  his 
thoughts  into  a  narrower  compass,  and  fewer 
words. 

But  making  some  allowance  for  the  largeness 
of  the  style,  that  volume  that  is  printed  is  gene- 
rally acknowledcred  to  be  one  of  the  most  per- 
fect pieces,  both  of  learninij  and  reasoning,  that 
has  been  written  on  that  subject.     And  he  who 


46  LIFE   OF    SIR   MATTHEW    HALE. 

read  a  greater  part  of  the  other  vohimes  told  me, 
they  were  all  of  a  piece  with  the  first. 

When  he  had  finished  this  work,  he  sent  it 
by  an  unknown  hand  to  bishop  Wilkins,  to  de- 
sire his  judgment  of  it :  but  he  that  brought  it 
would  give  no  other  account  of  the  author,  but 
that  he  was  not  a  clergyman.  The  Bishop  and 
his  vrorthy  friend  Dr.  Tillotson  read  a  great 
deal  of  it  with  much  pleasure  ;  but  could  not 
imagine  who  could  be  the  author,  and  how  a 
man  that  was  master  of  so  much  reason,  and  so 
great  a  variety  of  knowledge,  should  be  so  un- 
known to  them,  that  they  could  not  find  him  out 
by  those  characters  which  are  so  little  common. 
At  last  I)r.  Tillotson  guessed  it  must  be  the 
lord  chief  baron ;  to  which  the  other  presently 
agreed,  wondering  h^  had  been  so  long  in  finding 
it  out.  So  they  went  immediately  to  him,  and 
the  bishop  thanking  him  for  the  entertainment 
he  had  received  from  his  works,  he  blushed  ex- 
tremely, not  without  some  displeasure,  appre- 
hending that  the  person  he  had  trusted  had  dis- 
covered him.  But  the  bishop  soon  cleared  that, 
and  told  him  he  had  discovered  himself;  for  the 
learning  of  that  book  was  so  various,  that  none 
but  he  could  be  the  author  of  it.  And  that 
bishop,  having  a  freedom  in  delivering  his  opi- 
nion of  things  and  persons,  which  perhaps  few 
ever  managed  both  with  so  much  plainness  and 
prudence,  told  him,  there  was  nothing  could  be 
better  said  on  these  argimients,  if  he  could  bring 
it  into  a  less  compass  :  but  if  he  had  not  leisure 
for  that,  he  thouoht  it  much  better  to  have  it 


LITE  OF    SIR    .MATTHKW    HALE.  47 

come  out,  though  a  little  too  large,  than  that  the 
world  should  be  dcpri\'ed  of  the  good  which 
it  must  needs  do.  But  our  judge  had  never 
liie  opportunities  of  revising  it,  so  a  little  be- 
fore his  death  he  sent  the  first  part  of  it  to  the 
press. 

In  the  beginning  of  it,  he  gives  an  essay  of 
his  excellent  way  of  methodizing  things  ;  in 
which  he  was  so  great  a  master,  that  whatever 
he  undertook  he  would  presently  cast  into  so 
perfect  a  scheme,  that  he  could  never  afterward 
con-ect  it.  lie  runs  out  copiously  upon  the  ar- 
gument of  the  impossibility  of  an  eternal  suc- 
cession of  time,  to  show  that  time  and  eternity 
are  inconsistent  one  with  another  ;  and  that 
therefore  all  duration  that  was  past  and  defined 
by  time,  could  not  be  from  eternity  ;  and  he 
shows  the  difierence  between  successive  eter- 
nity already  past,  and  one  to  come  :  so  that 
though  the  latter  is  possible,  the  former  is  not  so ; 
for  all  the  parts  of  the  former  have  actually  been, 
and  therefore  being  defined  by  time,  cannot  be 
eternal  ;  whereas  the  other  are  still  future  to  all 
eternity;  so  that  this  reasoning  cannot  be  turn- 
ed to  prove  the  possibility  of  eternal  successions 
that  have  been,  as  well  as  eternal  successions 
that  shall  be.  This  he  follows  with  a  strength 
I  never  met  with  in  any  that  managed  it  before 
him. 

He  brings  next  all  those  moral  arguments,  to 
prove  that  the  world  had  a  beginning,  agreeing 
to  the  account  Moses  gives  of  it  ;  as  that  no  his- 
tory rises   higher,  than   near  the   time   of  the 


48  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

deluge  ;  and  that  the  first  foundation  of  kingdoms, 
the  invention  of  arts,  the  beginnings  of  all  reli- 
gions, the  gradual  plantation  of  the  world,  and 
increase  of  mankind,  and  the  consent  of  nations, 
do  agree  with  it.  In  managing  these,  as  he 
shows  profound  skill  both  in  historical  and  phi- 
losophical learning  ;  so  he  gives  a  noble  dis- 
covery of  his  great  candour  and  probity,  that  he 
would  not  impose  on  the  reader  with  a  false 
show  of  reasoning  by  arguments  that  he  knew 
had  flaws  in  them  ;  and  therefore  upon  every  one 
of  these  he  adds  such  allays  as  in  a  great  mea- 
sure lessened  and  took  off  their  force,  with  as 
much  exactness  of  judgment  and  strictness  of 
censure,  as  if  he  had  been  set  to  plead  for  the 
other  side  ;  and  indeed  sums  up  the  whole  evi- 
dence for  religion  as  impartially  as  ever  he  did 
in  a  trial  for  life  or  death  to  the  jury,  which 
how  equally  and  judiciously  he  always  did,  the 
whole  nation  well  knows. 

After  that  he  examines  the  ancient  opinions 
of  the  philosophers  ;  and  enlarges  with  a  great 
variety  of  curious  reflections,  in  answering  that 
only  argument  that  has  any  appearance  of 
strength  for  the  casual  production  of  man,  from 
the  origination  of  insects  out  of  putrefied  matter, 
as  is  commonly  supposed  ;  and  he  concluded 
the  book,  showing  how  rational  and  philosophi- 
cal the  account  which  Moses  gives  of  it  is. 
There  is  in  it  all  a  sagacity  and  quickness  of 
thought,  mixed  with  great  and  curious  learning, 
that  i  confess  I  never  met  together  in  any  other 
book  on  that  subject.     Among  other  conjectures, 


LIFE    Of    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  49 

one  he  gives  concerning  the  deluge  is,  that  he 
did  not  think  the  face  of  the  earth  and  the  wa- 
ters were  altogether  the  same  before  the  uni- 
versal deluge,  and  after  ;  '•  but  possibly  the  face 
of  the  earth  was  more  even  than  now  it  is  ;  the 
seas  possibly  more  dilated  and  extended,  and 
not  so  deep  as  now."  And  a  little  after,  "  Pos- 
sibly the  seas  have  undermined  much  of  the 
appearing  continent  of  earth."  This  I  the  rather 
take  notice  o\\  because  it  hath  been,  since  his 
death,  made  out  in  a  most  ingenious  and  most 
elegantly  written  book,  by  Mr,  Burnet,  of  Christ's 
College,  in  Cambridge,  who  has  given  such  an 
essay  toward  the  proving  the  possibility  of  a 
universal  deluge,  and  from  thence  has  collected 
with  great  sagacity,  what  paradise  was  before 
it,  as  has  not  been  offered  by  any  philosopher 
before  him. 

While  the  judge  was  thus  employing  his 
time,  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  Keyling  dying,  he 
was,  on  May  18th,  1671,  promoted  to  be  lord 
chief  justice  of  England.  He  had  made  the 
pleas  of  the  crown  one  of  his  chief  studies  ;  and 
by  much  search,  and  long  observation,  had  com- 
posed that  great  work  concerning  them,  former- 
ly mentioned  ;  he  that  holds  the  high  office  of 
justiciary  in  that  court  being  the  chief  trustee 
and  asserter  of  the  liberties  of  his  country.  All 
people  applauded  this  choice,  and  thought  their 
liberties  could  not  be  better  deposited  than  in 
the  hands  of  one,  that,  as  he  understood  them 
well,  so  he  had  all  the  justice  and  courage  that 
so  sacred  a  trust  required.  One  thing  was 
4 


50  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

much  observed  and  commended  in  him ;  that 
when  there  was  a  great  inequality  in  the  abihty 
and  learning  of  the  counsellors  that  were  to 
plead  one  against  another,  he  thought  it  became 
him,  as  the  judge,  to  supply  that :  so  he  Avould 
enforce  what  the  weaker  counsel  managed  but 
indifferently,  and  not  suffer  the  more  learned  to 
carry  the  business  by  the  advantage  they  had 
over  the  others,  in  their  quickness  and  skill  in 
law,  and  readiness  in  pleading,  till  all  things 
were  cleared  in  v/hich  the  merits  and  strength 
of  the  ill-defended  cause  lay.  He  was  not  sa- 
tisfied barely  to  -give  his  judgment  in  causes  ; 
but  did,  especially  in  all  intricate  ones,  give 
such  an  account  of  the  reasons  that  prevailed 
with  him,  that  the  counsel  did  not  only  acquiesce 
in  his  authority,  but  were  so  convinced  by  his 
reasons,  that  I  have  heard  many  profess,  that 
he  brought  them  often  to  change  their  opinions  ; 
so  that  his  giving  of  judgment  was  really  a 
learned  lecture  upon  that  point  of  law ;  and 
which  was  yet  more,  the  parties  themselves, 
though  interest  does  too  commonly  corrupt  the 
judgment,  were  generally  satisfied  with  the  jus- 
tice of  his  decisions,  even  when  they  were 
made  against  them.  His  impartial  justice  and 
gTeat  diligence  drew  the  chief  practice  after 
him,  into  whatsoever  court  he  came.  Since, 
though  the  courts  of  the  common  pleas,  the  ex- 
chequer, and  the  king's  bench,  are  appointed  for 
the  trial  of  causes  of  different  natures  ;  yet  it 
is  easy  to  bring  most  causes  into  any  of  them, 
as  the  counsel  or  attorneys  please  :  so,  as  he 


LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW   HALE.  51 

had  drawn  the  business  much  alter  him,  both 
into  tile  common  pleas  and  the  exchequer,  it 
now  followed  him  into  the  king's  bench  ;  and 
many  causes,  that  were  depending  in  the  ex- 
chequer, and  not  determined,  were  let  fall 
tliere,  and  brought  again  before  him  in  the  court 
to  which  he  was  now  removed.  And  here  did 
he  spend  the  rest  of  his  public  life  and  employ- 
ment. But  about  four  years  and  a  half  after 
this  advancement,  he,  who  had  hitherto  enjoy- 
ed a  firm  and  vigorous  health,  to  which  his 
great  temperance,  and  the  equality  of  his  mind, 
did  not  a  little  conduce,  was  on  a  sudden  brought 
very  low  by  an  inflammation  in  his  midriff',  which 
in  two  days'  time  broke  the  constitution  of  his 
health  to  such  a  degree  that  he  never  recover- 
ed it.  He  became  so  asthmatical,  that  with 
great  difficulty  he  could  fetch  his  breath,  that 
determined  in  a  dropsy,  of  which  he  afterward 
died.  He  understood  physic  so  well,  that,  con- 
sidering his  age,  he  concluded  his  distemper 
must  carry  him  ofT  in  a  little  time  ;  and,  there- 
fore, he  resolved  to  have  some  of  the  last  months 
of  his  life  reserved  to  himself,  that,  being  freed 
from  Jill  worldly  cares,  he  might  be  preparing  for 
his  change.  He  was  also  so  much  disabled  in 
his  body,  that  he  could  hardly,  though  supported 
by  his  servants,  walk  through  Westminster  Hall, 
or  endure  the  toil  of  business.  He  had  been  a 
long  time  wearied  with  the  distractions  that  his 
employment  had  brought  f»n  him,  and  his  profes- 
sion was  become  ungrateful  to  him.  He  loved 
to  apply  himself  wholly  to  better  purposes,  as 


62  LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW   HALE. 

will  appear  by  a  paper  tuat  he  wrote  on  this 
subject,  which  I  shall  here  insert. 

"  First,  If  I  consider  the  business  of  my 
profession,  whether  as  an  advocate  or  as  a 
judge  ;  it  is  true,  I  do  acknowledge,  by  the  in- 
stitution of  almighty  God,  and  the  dispensation 
of  his  providence,  I  am  bound  to  industry  and 
fidelity  in  it :  and  as  it  is  an  act  of  obedience 
unto  his  will,  it  carries  with  it  some  things  of 
religious  duty,  and  I  may  and  do  take  comfort 
in  it,  and  expect  a  reward  of  my  obedience  to 
him,  and  the  good  that  I  do  to  mankind  therein, 
from  the  bounty,  and  beneficence,  and  promise 
of  almighty  God.  And  it  is  true  also,  that  with- 
out such  employments  civil  societies  cannot  be 
supported,  and  great  good  redounds  to  mankind 
from  them  :  and  in  these  respects,  the  con- 
science of  my  own  industry,  fidelity,  and  integ- 
rity in  them,  is  a  great  comfort  and  satisfaction 
to  me.  But  yet  this  I  must  say  concerning 
these  employments,  considered  simply  in  them- 
selves, that  they  are  very  full  of  cares,  anxieties, 
and  perturbations. 

"  Secondly,  That  though  they  are  beneficial 
to  others,  yet  they  are  of  the  least  benefit  to  him 
that  is  employed  in  them. 

"  Thirdly,  That  they  do  necessarily  involve 
the  party,  whose  office  it  is,  in  great  dangers, 
difficulties,  and  calumnies. 

"  Fourthly,  That  they  only  serve  for  the 
meridian  of  this  life,  which  is  short  and  uncer- 
tain. 


LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  53 

"  Fifthly,  That  though  it  be  my  duty  faith- 
fully to  serve  in  them,  while  I  am  called  to 
them,  and  till  I  am  duly  called  from  them,  yet 
they  are  great  consumers  of  that  little  time  we 
have  here  ;  which,  as  it  seems  to  me,  might  be 
better  spent  in  a  pious  contemplative  life,  and 
a  due  provision  for  eternity.  I  do  not  know  a 
better  temporal  employment  than  Martha  had, 
in  testifying  her  love  and  duty  to  our  Saviour, 
by  making  provision  for  him  :  yet  our  Lord  tells 
her,  that  though  she  was  troubled  about  many 
things,  there  was  only  one  thing  necessary ; 
and  .Mary  had  chosen  the  better  part." 

By  this  the  reader  will  see,  that  he  continu- 
ed in  his  station  upon  no  other  consideration, 
but  that  being  set  in  it  by  the  providence  of 
God,  he  judged  he  could  not  abandon  that  post 
which  was  assigned  him,  without  preferring  his 
own  private  inclination  to  the  choice  God  had 
made  for  him.  But  now  that  same  providence 
having  by  this  great  distemper  disengaged  him 
from  the  obligation  of  liolding  a  place  which  he 
was  no  lonoer  able  to  discharge,  he  resolved  to 
resign  it.  This  was  no  sooner  surmised  abroad, 
than  it  drew  upon  him  the  importunities  of  all 
his  friends,  and  the  clamour  of  the  whole  town, 
to  divert  him  from  it ;  but  all  was  to  no  purpose. 
There  was  but  one  argument  that  could  move 
him,  which  was,  that  he  was  obliged  to  con- 
tinue in  the  employment  God  had  put  him  in, 
for  the  good  of  the  public.  But  to  this  he  had 
such  an  answer  that  even  those  who  were  most 


54  LIFE    OF   SIR,    MATTHEW   HALE. 

concerned  in  his  withdrawing  could  not  but  see 
that  the  reasons  inducing  him  to  it  were  but  too 
strong.  So  he  made  application  to  his  majesty 
for  his  writ  of  ease,  which  the  king  was  very- 
unwilling  to  grant  him,  and  offered  to  let  hini 
hold  his  place  still,  he  doing  what  business  he 
could  in  his  chamber :  but  he  said,  he  could 
not  with  a  good  conscience  continue  in  it,  since 
he  was  no  longer  able  to  discharge  t'ue  duty 
belonging  to  it. 

But  yet  such  was  the  general  satisfaction 
which  all  the  kingdom  received  by  his  excel- 
lent administration  of  justice,  that  the  king, 
though  he  could  not  well  deny  his  request,  yet 
he  deferred  the  granting  of  it  as  Jong  as  was 
possible.  Nor  could  the  lord  chancellor  be  pre- 
vailed with  to  move  the  king  to  hasten  his  dis- 
charge, though  the  chief  justice  often  pressed 
him  to  it. 

At  last  having  wearied  himself  and  all  his 
friends  with  his  importunate  desires,  and  grow- 
ing sensibly  weaker  in  body,  he  did,  upon  the 
twenty-first  day  of  February,  28  Car.  II.  anno 
dom.  1675-6,  go  before  a  master  of  the  chancery, 
with  a  little  parchment  deed,  drawn  by  himself, 
and  written  all  with  his  own  hand,  and  there 
sealed  and  delivered  it,  and  acknowledged  it  to 
be  enrolled ;  and  afterward  he  brought  the 
original  deed  to  the  lord  chancellor,  and  did 
formally  surrender  his  office. 

He  had  the  day  before  surrendered  to  the 
king  in  person,  who  parted  from  him  with  great 
grace,  wishing  him  most  heartily  the  return  of 


LIFE   OF    SIR   MATTHEW    HALE.  55 

his  health,  and  assuring  him,  that  he  would  still 
look  upon  him  as  one  of  his  judges,  and  have 
recourse  to  his  advice  when  his  health  would 
permit  ;  and  in  the  meantime  would  continue 
his  pension  during  his  life. 

The  good  man  thought  this  bounty  too  great, 
and  an  ill  precedent  for  the  king ;  and  therefore 
wrote  a  letter  to  the  lord  treasurer,  earnestly  de- 
siring that  his  pension  might  be  only  during 
pleasure.  But  the  king  would  grant  it  for  life, 
and  make  it  payable  quarterly. 

And  yet,  for  a  whole  month  together,  he  would 
not  sufler  his  servant  to  sue  out  his  patent  for 
his  pension  ;  and  when  the  first  payment  was 
received,  he  ordered  a  great  partof  itto  charitable 
uses  ;  and  said,  he  intended  most  of  it  should  be 
so  employed,  as  long  as  it  was  paid  him. 

At  last  he  happened  to  die  upon  the  quarter 
day,  which  was  Christmas  day  ;  and  though  this 
might  have  given  some  occasion  to  a  dispute, 
whether  the  pension  for  that  quarter  were  re- 
coverable, yet  the  king  was  pleased  to  decide 
that  matter  against  himself,  and  ordered  the  pen- 
sion to  be  paid  to  his  executors. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

As  soon  as  he  was  discharged  from  his  great 
place,  he  returned  home  with  as  nnich  cheerful- 
ness as  his  want  of  health  could  admit  of;  be- 
inir  Tiow  eased  of  a  burden  he  had  been  of  late 


56  LIFE   OF    SIR   MATTHEW    HALE. 

groaning  under,  and  so  made  more  capable  of 
enjoying  that  which  he  had  much  wished  for, 
according  to  his  elegant  translation  of,  or  rather 
paraphrase  upon,  those  excellent  lines  in  Sene- 
ca's Thyestes,  act  ii. 

Stct  quicunque  volet  patens 
Aulge  culmine  lubrico  : 
Me  dulcis  saturet  quies. 
Obscuro  positus  loco, 
Leni  perfruar  otio. 
Nultis  nota  Quiritibus 
--Etas  per  taciturn  fluat. 
Sic  cum  transierint  me' 
Nullo  cum  strepitu  dies» 
Plebeius  moriar  senex. 
Illi  mars  gravis  incubat^ 
Qui  notus  nimis  omnibus, 
Ignotus  moritur  sibi. 

"  Let  him  that  will  ascend  the  tottering  seat 
Of  courtly  grandeur,  and  become  as  great 
As  are  his  mounting  wishes  :   as  for  me, 
Let  sweet  repose  and  rest  my  portion  be. 
Give  me  some  mean,  obscure  recess  ;  a  sphere 
Out  of  the  road  of  business,  or  the  fear 
Of  falling  lower  :  where  I  sweetly  may 
Myself  and  dear  retirement  still  enjoy. 
Let  not  my  life  or  name  be  known  unto 
The  grandees  of  the  time,  tost  to  and  fro 
By  censures  or  applause  ;  but  let  my  age 
Slide  gently  by  ;  not  overthwart  the  stage 
Of  public  action,  unheard,  unseen. 
And  unconcem'd,  as  if  I  ne^er  had  been. 
And  thus,  while  I  shall  pass  niy  silent  day, 
In  shady  privacy,  free  from  the  noise 
And  bustles  of  the  mad  world,  then  shall  I 
A  good  old  innocent  plebeian  die. 
Death  is  a  mere  surprise,  a  very  snare 
To  him  that  makes  it  his  life's  greatest  care 


W     W^: 


LIFE   OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  57 

To  be  a  public  pageant  known  to  all, 

But  unacquainted  with  himself  doth  fall." 

Having  now  attained  to  that  privacy  which 
he  had  no  less  seriously  than  piously  wished  for, 
he  called  all  his  servants  that  had  belonged  to 
his  office  together,  and  told  them  he  had  now 
laid  down  his  place,  and  so  their  employments 
were  determined.  Upon  that,  he  advised  them 
to  see  for  themselves,  and  gave  to  some  of  them 
very  considerable  presents  ;  and  to  every  one  of 
them  a  token  ;  and  so  dismissed  all  those  that 
were  not  his  domestics.  He  was  discharged 
February  1.5th,  1675-6,  and  lived  till  the  Christ- 
mas following  ;  but  all  the  while  was  in  so  ill  a 
state  of  health,  that  there  was  no  hope  of  his  re- 
covery. He  continued  still  to  retire  often,  both 
for  his  devotions  and  studies  ;  and,  as  long  as 
he  could  go,  went  constantly  to  his  closet :  and 
when  his  infirmities  increased  on  him,  so  that 
he  was  not  able  to  go  thither  himself,  he  made 
his  servants  carr\'him  thither  in  a  chair.  At  last, 
as  the  winter  came  on,  he  saw,  with  great  joy, 
his  deliverance  approaching :  for,  besides  his 
being  we.iry  of  the  world,  and  his  longings  for 
the  blessedness  of  another  state,  his  pains  in- 
creased so  on  him,  tbat  no  patience  inferior  to 
his  could  have  borne  them  without  a  great  unea- 
siness of  mind;  yet  he  expressed  to  the  last 
-uch  submission  to  the  will  of  God,  and  so  equal 
t  temper  under  them,  that  it  was  visible  then 
what  mighty  eflecfs  his  philosophy  and  Chris- 
tianity had  on  him,  in  supporting  liim  under  such 
a  heavy  load. 


58  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

He  could  not  lie  down  in  bed  above  a  year 
before  his  death,  by  reason  of  the  asthma  ;  but 
sat  rather  than  lay  in  it. 

He  was  attended  on  in  his  sickness  by  a 
pious  and  worthy  divine,  jNIr.  Evan  Griffith, 
minister  of  the  parish  ;  and  it  was  observed,  that 
in  all  the  extremities  of  his  pain,  whenever  he 
prayed  by  him,  he  forebore  all  complaints  or 
groans  ;  but  with  his  hand  and  eyes  lifted  up, 
was  fixed  in  his  devotions.  Not  long  before 
his  death,  the  minister  told  him,  there  was  to  be 
a  sacrament  next  Sunday  at  church  ;  but  he  be- 
lieved he  could  not  come  and  partake  with  the 
rest ;  therefore  he  would  give  it  to  him  in  his 
own  house.  But  he  answered,  no  ;  his  heaven- 
ly Father  had  prepared  a  feast  for  him,  and  he 
would  go  to  his  Father's  house  to  partake  of  it. 
So  he  made  himself  be  carried  thither  in  his 
chair,  where  he  received  the  sacrament  on  his 
knees,  with  great  devotion  ;  which  it  may  be 
supposed  was  the  greater,  because  he  appre- 
hended it  was  to  be  his  last,  and  so  took  it  as 
his  viaticum,  and  provision  for  his  journey.  He 
had  some  secret  unaccountable  presages  of  his 
death";  for  he  said  that  if  he  did  not  die  on  such 
a  day,  (which  fell  to  be  November  25th,)  he  be- 
lieved he  should  live  a  month  longer  ;  and  he 
died  that  very  day  month.  He  continued  to  en- 
joy the  free  use  of  his  reason  and  sense  to  the 
last  moment,  which  he  had  often  and  earnestly 
prayed  for  during  his  sickness.  And  when  his 
voice  was  so  sunk  that  he  could  not  be  heard, 
they  perceived,  by  the  almost  constant  lifting  up 


LIFE    OF    SIR    .MATTHEW    HALE.  59^ 

of  his  eyes  and  hands,  that  he  was  still  aspiring 
toward  that  blessed  state  of  which  he  was  now 
speedily  to  be  possessed. 

He  had  for  many  years  a  particular  devotion 
for  Christmas  day  ;  and  after  he  had  received 
the  sacrament,  and  been  in  the  performance  of 
the  public  worship  ofthat  day,  he  commonly  wrote 
a  copy  of  verses  on  the  honour  of  his  Saviour, 
as  a  fit  expression  of  the  joy  he  felt  in  his  soul 
at  the  return  of  that  glorious  anniversary. 
There  are  seventeen  of  those  copies  printed, 
which  he  wrote  on  seventeen  several  Christmas 
days,  by  which  the  world  has  a  taste  of  his  po- 
etical genius  ;  in  which,  if  he  had  thought  it  worth 
his  time  to  have  excelled,  he  might  have  been 
eminent,  as  well  as  in  other  things  ;  but  he 
wrote  them  rather  to  entertain  himself,  than  to 
merit  the  laurel. 

1  shall  here  add  one,  which  has  not  been  yet 
printed  ;  and  it  is  not  uidikely  it  was  the  last  he 
wrote.  It  is  a  paraphrase  on  Simeon's  song.  I 
take  it  from  his  blotted  copy,  not  at  all  finished ; 
so  the  reader  is  to  make  allowance  for  any  im- 
perfection he  may  find  in  it. 

"  Blkssed  Creator,  who  before  the  birth 
Of  lime,  or  ere  the  pillars  of  the  earth 
Were  fix'd  or  foriird,  didst  lav  that  great  design 
Of  man's  redemption  ;   and  didst  define 
In  ihinc  eternal  counsels  all  the  scene 
Of  that  stupendous  business,  and  when 
It  should  appear:  and  thoimh  the  very  day 
Of  its  epiphany  concealed  lay 
Within  thy  mind,  yet  thou  wert  pleased  to  show 
Some  crhmpses  of  it  unto  men  below, 


60  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

In  visions,  types,  and  prophecies  ;  as  we 

Things  at  a  distance  in  perspective  see. 

But  thou  wert  pleased  to  let  thy  servant  know 

That  that  bless'd  hour,  that  seenn'd  to  move  so  slow 

Through  former  ages,  should  at  last  attain 

Its  time,  ere  my  few  sands,  that  yet  remain, 

Are  spent ;  and  that  these  aged  eyes 

Should  see  the  day  when  Jacob's  Star  should  rise. 

And  now  thou  hast  fulfill'd  it,  blessed  Lord, 

Dismiss  me  now,  according  to  thy  word  ; 

And  let  my  aged  body  now  return 

To  rest,  and  dust,  and  drop  into  an  urn  : 

For  I  have  lived  enough  ;  mine  eyes  have  seen 

Thy  much-desired  salvation,  that  hath  been 

So  long,  so  dearly  wish'd,  the  joy,  the  hope 

Of  all  the  ancient  patriarchs,  the  scope 

Of  all  the  prophecies  and  mysteries, 

Of  all  the  types  unveil'd,  the  histories 

Of  Jewish  church  unriddled,  and  the  bright 

And  orient  sun  arisen  to  give  light 

To  Gentiles,  and  the  joy  of  Israel, 

The  world's  Redeemer,  bless'd  Emmanuel. 

Let  this  sight  close  mine  eyes  ;  'lis  loss  to  see, 

After  this  vision,  any  sight  but  thee." 

Thus  he  used  to  sing  on  the  former  Christ- 
mas days  ;  but  now  he  was  to  be  admitted  to 
bear  his  part  in  the  new  songs  above :  so  that 
day,  which  he  had  spent  in  so  much  spiritual 
joy,  proA'ed  to  be  indeed  the  day  of  his  jubilee 
and  deliverance  ;  for  between  two  and  three  in 
the  afternoon  he  breathed  out  his  righteous  and 
pious  soul.  His  end  was  peace  ;  he  had  no 
strugglings,  nor  seemed  to  be  in  any  pangs  in 
his  last  moments.  He  was  buried  on  January 
4th,  Mr.  Griffith  preaching  the  funeral  sermon. 
His  text  was  Isaiah  Ivii,  1,  "The  righteous 
perisheth,  and  no  man  layeth  it  to  heart ;  and 


LIFE    or    sill    MATTHEW    HALE.  61 

merciful  men  are  taken  away,  none  considering 
that  the  righteous  are  taken  away  from  the  evil 
to  come."  Which,  how  fitly  it  was  applicable 
upon  this  occasion,  all  that  consider  the  course 
of  his  life  will  easily  conclude.  He  was  inter- 
red in  the  church-yard  of  Alderley,  among  his 
ancestors.  He  did  not  much  approve  of  bury- 
ing in  churches ;  and  used  to  say  the  churches 
were  for  the  living,  and  the  church-yards  for  the 
dead.  His  monument  was  like  himself,  decent 
and  plain  :  the  tombstone  was  black  marble, 
and  the  sides  were  black  and  white  marble  ; 
upon  which  he  himself  had  ordered  this  bare 
and  humble  inscription  to  be  made  : — 

HIC   IXHUMATUR   CORPUS 

MATTH.EI    HALE,    MILITIS  ; 

ROBERTI    HALE,  ET  JOHANX.E,  UXORIS  EJUS, 

FILII  UXICI. 

XATI  IX   HAG  PAROCHIA  DE  ALDERLEY, 

PRIMO    DIE   XOVEMBRIS, 

AXXO    DOM.   MDCIX. 

DEXATI    VERO    IBIDEM 

VICESSIMO   QLnXTO    DIE   DECEMBRIS, 

ANNO  DOM.   MDCLXXVI.       ^TATIS  SU^   LXVII. 

Having  thus  given  an  account  of  the  most  re- 
markable things  of  his  life,  I  am  now  to  pre- 
sent the  reader  with  such  a  character  of  him, 
as  the  laying  his  several  virtues  together  will 
amount  to  :  in  which  1  know  how  difficult  a 
task  I  undertake  ;  for  to  write  defectively  of  him 
were  to  injure  him,  and  lessen  the  memory  of 
one  to  whom  I  intend  to  do  all  the  right  that  is 


62  LIFE   OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

in  my  power.  On  the  other  hand,  there  is  so 
much  here  to  be  commended,  and  proposed  for 
the  imitation  of  others,  that  I  am  afraid  some 
may  imagine  I  am  rather  making  a  picture  of 
him,  from  an  abstracted  idea  of  great  virtues  and 
perfections,  than  setting  him  out  as  he  truly 
was.  But  there  is  great  encouragement  in  this, 
that  I  write  concerning  a  man  so  fresh  in  all 
people's  remembrance,  that  is  so  lately  dead, 
and  Avas  so  much  and  so  well  known,  that  I 
shall  have  many  vouchers,  who  will  be  ready 
to  justify  me  in  that  all  I  am  to  relate,  and  to 
add  a  great  deal  to  what  I  can  say. 

It  has  appeared  in  the  account  of  his  various 
learning  how  great  his  capacities  were,  and 
how  much  they  were  improved  by  constant  study. 
He  rose  always  early  in  the  morning  ;  he  loved 
to  walk  much  abroad ;  not  only  for  his  health, 
but  he  thought  it  opened  his  mind,  and  enlarged 
his  thoughts,  to  have  the  creation  of  God  before 
his  eyes.  When  he  set  himself  to  any  study, 
he  used  to  cast  his  design  in  a  scheme,  which 
he  did  with  a  great  exactness  of  method  :  he 
took  nothing  on  trust,  but  pursued  his  inquiries 
as  far  as  they  could  go  ;  and  as  he  was  humble 
enough  to  confess  his  ignorance,  and  submit  to 
mysteries  which  he  could  not  comprehend,  so 
he  was  not  easily  imposed  on  by  any  shows  of 
reason,  or  the  bugbears  of  vulgar  opinions.  He 
brought  all  his  knowledge  as  much  to  scientifi- 
cal  principles  as  he  possibly  could,  which  made 
him  neglect  the  study  of  tongues  :  for  the  bent 
of  his  mind  lay.  another  way.    Discoursing  once 


LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  63 

of  this  to  some,  they  said  they  looked  on  the 
common  law  as  a  study  that  could  not  be  brought 
into  a  scheme,  nor  formed  into  a  rational  science, 
bv  reason  of  the  indigestedness  of  it,  and  the 
multiplicity  of  the  cases  in  it,  which  rendered 
it  very  hard  to  be  understood,  or  reduced  into  a 
method.  But  he  said,  he  was  not  of  their  mind  ; 
and  so,  quickly  after,  he  drew  with  his  own 
hand  a  scheme  of  the  whole  order  and  parts  of 
it,  in  a  large  sheet  of  paper,  to  the  great  satis- 
faction of  those  to  whom  he  sent  it.  Upon  this 
hint,  some  pressed  him  to  compile  a  body  of 
the  English  law  :  it  could  hardly  ever  be  done 
by  a  man  who  knew  it  better,  and  would  with 
more  judgment  and  industry  have  put  it  into 
method.  But  he  said,  as  it  was  a  great  and 
noble  design,  which  would  be  of  vast  advantage 
to  the  nation  ;  so  it  was  too  much  for  a  private 
man  to  undertake  :  it  was  not  ^o  be  entered 
upon,  but  by  the  command  of  a  prince,  and  with 
the  communicated  endeavours  of  some  of  the 
most  eminent  of  the  profession. 

He  had  great  vivacity  in  his  fancy,  as  may 
appear  by  his  inclination  to  poetry,  and  the 
lively  illustrations,  and  many  tender  strains  in 
his  contemplations  :  but  he  looked  on  eloquence 
and  wit  as  things  to  be  used  very  chastely  in 
serious  matters,  which  should  come  under  a  se- 
verer inquiry.  Therefore  he  was,  both  when  at 
the  bar  and  on  the  bench,  a  great  enemy  to  all 
elo(juence  or  rhetorick  in  pleading.  He  said, 
if  the  judge  or  jury  had  a  risjht  understanding, 
it   signified  nothing  but  a  waste  of  time,  and 


64  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

loss  of  words  ;  and  if  they  were  weak,  and 
easily  wrought  on,  it  was  a  more  decent  way 
of  corrupting  them  by  bribing  their  fancies,  and 
biassing  their  affections  :  and  w^ondered  much 
at  that  affectation  of  the  French  lawyers,  in 
imitating  the  Roman  orators  in  their  pleadings  ; 
for  the  oratory  of  the  Romans  was  occasioned 
by  their  popular  government,  and  the  factions 
of  the  city  :  so  that  those  who  intended  to  excel 
in  the  pleading  of  causes  were  trained  up  in 
the  schools  of  the  rhetors,  till  they  became 
ready  and  expert  in  that  luscious  way  of  dis- 
course. It  is  true,  the  composures  of  such  a 
man  as  Tully  was,  who  mixed  an  extraordinary 
quickness,  an  exact  judgment,  and  a  just  deco- 
rum with  his  skill  in  rhetoric,  do  still  entertain 
the  readers  of  them  with  great  pleasure  ;  but  at 
the  same  time  it  must  be  acknowledged,  that 
there  is  not  tkat  chastity  of  style,  that  closeness 
of  reasoning,  nor  that  justness  of  figures  in  his 
orations,  that  are  in  his  other  writings  ;  so  that 
a  great  deal  was  said  by  him,  rather  because  he 
knew  it  would  be  acceptable  to  his  auditors, 
than  that  it  was  approved  of  by  himself;  and 
all  who  read  them  will  acknowledge,  they  are 
better  pleased  w4th  them  as  essays  of  wit  and 
style,  than  as  pleadings,  by  which  such  a  judge 
as  ours  was  would  not  be  much  wrought  on. 
And  if  there  are  such  grounds  to  censure  the 
performances  of  the  greatest  master  in  elo- 
quence, we  may  easily  infer  what  nauseous 
discourses  the  other  orators  made  ;  since  in 
oratory,  as  well  as  in  poetry,  none  can  do  in- 


LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTIIKW    HALE.  65 

diflerently.  So  our  judge  wondered  to  find  the 
French,  that  live  under  a  monarchy,  so  fond  of 
imitating  that  which  was  an  ill  effect  Oi  the 
popular  government  of  Rome.  He,  therefore, 
pleaded  himself  always  in  few  words,  and  home 
to  the  point.  And  when  he  was  a  judge,  he 
held  those  that  pleaded  before  him  to  the  main 
hinge  of  the  business,  and  cut  them  short  when 
they  made  excursions  about  circumstances  of  no 
moment ;  by  which  he  saved  much  time,  and 
made  the  chief  dithculties  be  well  stated  and 
cleared. 

There  was  another  custom  among  the  Romans 
which  he  as  much  admired  as  he  despised  their 
rhetoric  ;  which  was,  that  the  jurisconsults  were 
the  men  of  the  highest  quality,  who  were  bred 
to  be  capable  of  the  chief  employment  in  the 
state,  and  became  the  great  masters  of  their  law. 
These  gave  their  opinions  of  all  cases  that 
were  put  to  them  freely,  judging  it  below  them 
to  take  any  present  for  it ;  and,  indeed,  they 
only  were  the  true  lawyers  among  them,  whose 
resolutions  were  of  that  authority,  that  they 
made  one  classis  of  those  materials,  out  of  which 
'J'rebonian  compiled  the  Digests  under  Justi- 
nian ;  for  the  orators,  or  causidici,  that  pleaded 
causes,  knew  little  of  the  law,  and  only  employ- 
ed their  mercenary  tongues  to  work  on  the 
affections  of  the  people  and  senate,  or  the  prae- 
tors. Even  in  most  of  Tully's  orations  there  is 
litth^  of  law;  and  that  little,  which  they  might 
sprinkle  in  their  declamations,  they  had  not 
from  their  own  knowledge,  but  the  resolution 


66  LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

of  some  jurisconsult ;  according  to  that  famous 
story  of  Servius  Sulpitius,  who  was  a  celebrated 
orator,  and  being  to  receive  the  resolution  of  one 
of  those  that  were  learned  in  the  law,  was  so 
ignorant,  that  he  could  not  understand  it ;  upon 
which  the  jurisconsult  reproached  him,  and  said, 
it  was  a  shame  for  him,  that  was  a  nobleman,  a 
senator,  and  a  pleader  of  causes,  to  be  thus  ig- 
norant of  the  law.  This  touched  him  so  sensi- 
bly that  he  set  about  the  study  of  it,  and  became 
one  of  the  most  eminent  jurisconsults  that  ever 
were  at  Rome.  Our  judge  thought  it  might 
become  the  greatness  of  a  prince  to  encourage 
such  a  sort  of  men,  and  of  studies  ;  in  which 
none  in  the  age  he  lived  in  was  equal  to  the 
great  Selden,  who  was  truly  in  our  English 
law  what  the  old  Roman  jurisconsults  were  in 
theirs. 

But  where  a  decent  eloquence  was  allowable, 
Judge  Hale  knew  how  to  have  excelled  as  much 
as  any,  either  in  illustrating  his  reasonings  by 
proper  and  well-pursued  similes,  or  by  such 
tender  expressions  as  might  work  most  on  the 
affections  ;  so  that  the  present  lord  chancellor 
has  often  said  of  him  since  his  death,  that  he 
was  the  greatest  orator  he  had  known ;  for 
though  his  words  came  not  fluently  from  him, 
yet  when  they  were  out,  they  were  the  most 
significant  and  expressive  that  the  matter  could 
bear.  Of  this  sort  there  are  many  in  his  Con- 
templations, made  to  quicken  his  own  devotions ; 
which  have  a  life  in  them  becoming  him  that 
useth  them,  and  a  softness  fit  to  melt  even  the 


LIKK    OF    SIR    MATTHFW    HALF.  67 

harshest  tempers,  accommodated  to  the  gravity 
of  the  subject,  and  apt  to  excite  warm  thoughts 
in  the  readers  ;  that  as  they  show  his  excellent 
temper  that  brought  them  out,  and  appUed  them 
to  himseh',  so  they  are  of  great  use  to  all  who 
would  both  inform  and  quicken  their  minds. 
Of  his  illustrations  of  things  by  proper  similes  I 
shall  give  a  large  instance,  out  of  his  book  of 
the  "  Origination  of  Mankind,"  designed  to  ex- 
pose the  several  different  hypotheses  the  philo- 
sophers fell  on  concerning  the  eternity  and  ori- 
ginal of  the  universe  ;  and  to  prefer  the  account 
given  by  Moses  to  all  their  conjectures  :  in 
which,  if  my  taste  does  not  misguide  me,  the 
reader  will  find  a  nire  and  very  agreeable  mix- 
ture both  of  fine  wit  and  solid  learning  and 
judgment. 

"  That  which  may  illustrate  my  meaning  in 
this  preference  of  the  revealed  light  of  the  holy 
Scriptures,  touching  this  matter,  above  the  es- 
says of  a  philosophical  imagination,  may  be  this. 
Suppose  that  Greece,  being  unacquainted  with 
the  curiosity  of  mechanical  engines,  though 
known  in  some  remote  region  of  the  world  ;  and 
that  an  excellent  artist  had  secretly  brought, 
and  deposited  in  some  field  or  forest  some  ex- 
cellent watch  or  clock,  which  had  been  so 
formed  that  the  original  of  its  motion  were  hid- 
den, and  involved  in  some  close-contrived  piece 
of  mechanism  ;  that  this  watch  was  so  framed 
that  the  motion  thereof  mii,dit  have  lasted  a  year, 
or  some  such  time  as  misiht  give  a  reasonable 
period  for  their  philosophical  descanting  con- 


68  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

cerning  it ;  and  that  in  the  plain  table  there  had 
been  not  only  the  description  and  indication 
of  hours,  but  the  configurations  and  indications 
of  the  various  phases  of  the  moon,  the  motion 
and  place  of  the  sun  in  the  ecliptic,  and  divers 
other  curious  indications  of  celestial  motions  ; 
and  that  the  scholars  of  the  several  schools  of 
Epicurus,  of  Aristotle,  of  Plato,  and  the  rest  of 
those  philosophical  sects,  had  casually  in  their 
vi^alk  found  this  admirable  automaton ;  what 
kind  of  work  would  there  have  been  made  by 
every  sect,  in  giving  an  account  of  this  pheno- 
menon ?  We  should  have  had  the  Epicurean 
sect  have  told  the  by-standers,  according  to  their 
preconceived  hypothesis,  that  this  was  nothing 
else  but  an  accidental  concretion  of  atoms,  that 
happily  fallen  together  had  made  up  the  index, 
the  wheels,  and  the  balance  ;  and  that  being 
happily  fallen  into  this  posture,  they  were  put 
into  motion.  Then  the  Cartesian  falls  in  with 
him,  as  to  the  main  of  their  supposition  ;  but 
tells  him  that  he  does  not  sufficiently  explicate 
how  the  engine  is  put  into  motion  ;  and  therefore, 
to  furnish  this  motion,  there  is  a  certain  materia 
siibtilis,  that  pervades  this  engine,  and  the 
moveable  parts,  consisting  of  certain  globular 
atoms,  apt  for  motion  ;  they  are  thereby,  and  by 
the  mobilit5'  of  the  globular  atoms,  put  into  mo- 
tion. A  tliird  finding  fault  with  the  two  former, 
because  those  motions  are  so  regular,  and  do 
express  the  various  phenomena  of  the  distribu- 
tion of  time,  and  of  the  heavenly  motions  ;  there- 
fore it  seems  to  him,  that  this  engine,  and  motion 


LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  G9 

also,  SO  analogical  to  the  motions  of  the  heavens, 
was  wrought  by  some  admirable  conjunction  of 
the  heavenly  bodies,  which  formed  this  instru- 
ment, and  its  motions,  in  such  an  admiralile 
correspondency  to  its  own  existence.  A  fourtb, 
disliking  the  suppositions  of  the  three  former, 
tells  the  rest,  that  he  hath  a  more  plain  and 
evident  solution  of  the  phenomenon,  namely, 
the  universal  soul  of  the  world,  or  spirit  of  na- 
ture, that  formed  so  many  sorts  of  insects  with 
so  many  organs,  faculties,  and  such  congruity 
of  their  whole  composition,  and  such  curious 
and  various  motions,  as  we  may  observe  in 
them,  hath  formed  and  set  into  motion  this  ad- 
mirable automaton,  and  regulated  and  ordered  it, 
with  all  these  congruities  we  see  in  it.  Then 
steps  in  an  Aristotelian,  and  being  dissatisfied 
with  all  the  former  solutions,  tells  them,  '  Gen- 
tlemen, you  are  all  mistaken  ;  your  solutions  are 
inexplicable  and  unsatisfactory  ;  you  have  taken 
up  certain  precarious  hypotheses,  and  being 
prepossessed  with  these  creatures  of  your  own 
fancies,  and  in  love  with  them,  right  or  wrong, 
you  form  all  your  conceptions  of  things  accord- 
ing to  those  fancied  and  preconceived  imagina- 
tions. The  short  of  the  business  is,  this  ma- 
chine is  eternal,  and  so  are  all  the  motions  of 
it ;  and  inasmuch  as  a  circular  motion  hath  no 
beginning  or  end,  this  motion  that  you  see  both 
in  the  wheels  and  index,  and  the  successive 
indications  of  the  celestial  motions,  is  eternal, 
and  without  beginning.  And  this  is  a  ready 
and   expeditious    way  of  solving    the    pheno- 


70  LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

mena,  without  so  much  ado  as  you  have   made 
about  it.' 

"  And  while  all  the  masters  were  thus  con- 
triving the  solution  of  the  phenomenon,  in  the 
hearing  of  the  artist  that  made  it :  and  when 
they  had  all  spent  their  philosophizing  upon  it, 
the  artist  that  made  this  engine,  and  all  this 
while  listened  to  their  .admirable  fancies,  tells 
them,  '  Gentlemen,  you  have  discovered  very 
much  excellency  of  invention,  touching  this 
piece  of  work  that  is  before  you  ;  but  you  are  all 
miserably  mistaken  ;  for  it  was  I  that  made  this 
watch,  and  brought  it  hither ;  and  I  will  show  you 
how  I  made  it.  First,  I  wrought  the  spring,  and 
the  fusee,  and  the  wheels,  and  the  balance,  and 
the  case  and  table  ;  I  fitted  them  one  to  another, 
and  placed  these  several  axes  that  are  to  direct 
the  motions,  of  the  index  to  discover  the  hour 
of  the  day,  of  the  figure  that  discovers  the 
phases  of  the  moon,  and  the  other  various  mo- 
tions that  you  see  :  and  then  I  put  it  together 
and  wound  up  the  spring,  which  hath  given  all 
these  motions  that  you  see  in  this  curious  piece 
of  work ;  and  that  you  may  be  sure  I  tell  you 
true,  I  will  tell  you  the  whole  order  and  pro- 
gress of  my  making,  disposing,  and  ordering  of 
this  piece  of  work  ;  the  several  materials  of  it ; 
the  manner  of  the  forming  of  every  individual 
part  of  it,  and  how  long  I  was  about  it.'  This 
plain  and  evident  discovery  renders  all  these 
excogitated  hypotheses  of  those  philosophical 
enthusiasts  vain  and  ridiculous,  without  any 
great  help   of  rhetorical   flourishes,  or  logical 


MFK  oi'  ?iiii   iMA'i  TJii;\v  hall;.  71 

confutations.  And  much  of  the  same  nature  is 
that  disparity  of  the  hypotheses  of  the  learned 
philosophers,  in  relation  to  the  origination  of  the 
world  and  man,  after  a  great  deal  of  dust  raised, 
and  fanciful  explications  and  unintelligible  hy- 
potheses. The  plain  but  divine  narrative  by  the 
hand  of  Moses,  full  of  sense  and  congruity,  and 
clearness,  and  reasonableness  in  itself,  does  at 
the  same  moment  give  us  a  true  and  clear  dis- 
covery of  this  great  mystery,  and  renders  all  the 
essays  of  the  generality  of  the  heathen  philoso- 
phers to  be  vain,  inevident,  and  indeed  inexpli- 
cable theories,  the  creatures  of  phantasy  and 
imagination,  and  nothing  else." 


CHAPTER  V. 

A8  for  his  virtues, ihey  have  appeared  so  con- 
spicuous in  all  the  several  transactions  and  turns 
of  his  life,  that  it  may  seem  needless  to  add  any 
more  of  them  than  has  been  already  related  : 
but  there  are  many  particular  instances,  which 
I  knew  not  how  to  lit  to  the  several  years  of 
his  life,  which  will  give  us  a  clearer  and  better 
view  of  him. 

Ho  was  a  devout  Christian,  a  sincere  Pro- 
testant, and  a  true  son  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land;  moderate  toward  dissenters,  and  just  even 
to  those  from  whom  he  differed  most ;  which 
appeared  signally  in  the  care  he  took  of  pre- 
serving the  Quakers  from  tliat  mischief  that  was 


72  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

likely  to  fall  on  them  by  declaring  their  mar- 
riages void,  and  so  bastarding  their  children  : 
but  he  considered  marriage  and  succession  as  a 
right  of  nature,  from  which  none  ought  to  be 
barred,  what  mistake  soever  they  might  be  un- 
der in  the  points  of  revealed  religion. 

And  therefore,  in  a  trial  that  was  before  him, 
when  a  Quaker  was  sued  for  some  debts  owing 
by  his  wife  before  he  married  her,  and  the 
Quaker's  counsel  pretended  that  it  was  no  mar- 
riage that  had  passed  between  them,  since  it 
was  not  solemnized  according  to  the  rules  of  the 
Church  of  England  ;  he  declared,  that  he  was 
not  willing  on  his  own  opinion  to  make  their 
chiklren  bastards,  and  gave  directions  to  the 
jury  to  find  it  special.  It  was  a  reflection  on 
the  whole  party,  that  one  of  them  to  avoid  an 
inconvenience  he  had  fallen  in,  thought  to  have 
preserved  himself  by  a  defence,  that,  if  it  had 
been  allowed  in  law,  must  have  made  their 
whole  issue  bastards,  and  incapable  of  succes- 
sion. And  for  all  their  pretended  friendship  to 
one  another,  if  this  judge  had  not  been  more 
their  friend  than  one  of  those  they  so  called, 
their  posterity  had  been  iitfle  beholden  to  them. 
But  he  governed  himself  indeed  by  the  law  of 
the  gospel,  of  doing  to  others  what  he  would 
have  others  do  to  him  ;  and  therefore,  because 
he  would  have  thought  it  a  hardship  not  with- 
out cruelty,  if,  among  Papists  all  marriages 
were  nulled  which  had  not  been  made  with  all 
the  ceremonies  in  the  Roman  ritual ;  so  he, 
applying    this    to    the    case    of  the    sectaries, 


LIFE   OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  73 

thoujTlit  all  marriages  made  according  to  the 
several  persuasions  of  men,  ought  to  have  their 
effects  in  law. 

He  used  constantly  to  worship  God  in  his 
family,  performing  it  always  himself,  if  there 
was  no  clergyman  present.  But  as  to  his  pri- 
vate exercises  in  devotion,  he  took  that  extraor- 
dinary care  to  keep  what  he  did  in  secret,  that 
this  part  of  his  character  must  be  defective,  ex- 
cept it  be  acknowledged  that  his  humility  in 
covering  it  commends  him  mucli  more  than  the 
liighest  expressions  of  devotion  could  have  done. 

From  the  first  titne  that  the  impressions  of 
relioion  settled  deeply  in  his  mind,  he  used 
great  caution  to  conceal  it  ;  not  only  in  obedi- 
ence to  what  he  believed  to  be  the  command  of 
our  Saviour,  of  fasting,  praying,  and  giving  alms 
in  secret ;  but  from  a  particular  distrust  he  had 
of  himself  ;  for  he  said,  he  was  afraid  he  should 
at  some  time  or  other  do  some  enormous  thing, 
which,  if  he  were  looked  on  as  a  very  religious 
man,  might  cast  a  reproach  on  the  profession 
of  it,  and  give  great  advantages  to  impious  men 
to  blaspheme  the  name  of  God.  But  "  a  tree  is 
known  by  its  fruits  ;"  and  he  lived  not  only  free 
from  blemishes  or  scandal,  but  shone  in  all  the 
j)arts  of  his  conversation.  And  perhaps  the 
distrust  he  was  in  of  himself  contributed  not  a 
little  to  the  purity  of  his  life  ;  for  he  being 
thereby  obliged  to  be  more  watchful  over  him- 
self, and  to  depend  more  on  the  aids  of  the  Spi- 
rit of  God,  no  wonder  if  that  humble  temper 
produced  those  excellent  elVecls  in  him. 


74  LIFE    OF    iilK    MATTHEW    HALE 

He  had  a  soul  enlarged  and  raised  above  that 
mean  appetite  of  loving  money,  which  is  gene- 
rally the  root  of  all  evil.  He  did  not  take  the 
prolits  that  he  might  have  had  by  his  practice  ; 
for  in  common  cases,  when  those  who  came  to 
ask  his  counsel  gave  him  a  piece,  he  used  to 
give  l)ack  the  half,  and  so  made  ten  shillings 
his  fee,  in  ordinary  matters  that  did  not  require 
much  time  or  study.  If  he  saw  a  cause  was 
unjust,  he  for  a  great  while  would  not  meddle 
farther  in  it,  but  to  give  his  advice  that  it  was 
so.  If  the  parties  after  that  would  go  on,  they 
were  to  seek  another  counsellor,  for  he  would 
assist  none  in  acts  of  injustice.  If  he  found  the 
cause  doubtful,  or  weak  in  point  of  law,  he 
always  advised  his  clients  to  agree  among 
themselves.  Yet  afterward  he  abated  much  of 
the  scrupulosity  he  had  about  causes  that  ap- 
peared at  first  view  unjust,  upon  this  occasion : 
there  were  two  causes  brought  to  him,  which, 
by  the.  ignorance  of  the  party,  or  their  attorney, 
were  so  ill  represented  to  him,  that  they  seemed 
to  be  very  bad  ;  but  he  inquiring  more  narrowly 
into  them,  found  they  were  really  very  good  and 
just :  so  after  this  he  slackened  much  of  his 
former  strictness  of  refusing  to  meddle  in  causes 
upon  the  ill  circumstances  that  appeared  in 
them  at  tirst. 

In  his  pleading  he  abhorred  those  too  com- 
mon faults  of  misreciting  evidences,  quoting 
precedents  or  books  falsely,  or  asserting  things 
confidently  ;  by  which  ignorant  juries,  or  weak 
judges,    are    too    often     wrought    upon.       He 


l.IFE    OF    SIK    iMATlHKW     HALE.  75 

pleaded  with  the  same  sincerity  that  he  used  in 
the  other  parts  of  his  life  ;  and  used  to  say,  "  It 
was  as  great  a  dishonour  as  a  man  was  capable 
of,  that  for  a  little  money  he  w^as  to  be  hired  to 
say  or  do  otherwise  than  as  he  thought."  All  this 
he  ascribed  to  the  unmeasurable  desire  of  heap- 
ing up  wealth,  which  corrupted  the  souls  of 
some  that  seemed  to  be  otherwise  born  and 
made  for  great  things. 

When  he  was  a  practitioner,  differences 
were  often  referred  to  him,  which  he  settled  ; 
but  would  accept  of  no  reward  for  his  pains, 
though  offered  by  both  parties  together,  after 
the  agreement  was  made  ;  for  he  said,  in  those 
cases  he  was  made  a  judge,  and  a  judge  ought 
to  take  no  money.  Tf  they  told  him  he  lost 
much  of  his  time  in  considering  their  business, 
and  so  ought  to  be  acknowledged  for  it ;  his  an- 
swer was,  (as  one  that  heard  it  told  me,) 
"  Can  I  spend  my  time  better  than  to  make  peo- 
ple friends  ?  Must  I  have  no  time  allowed  me  to 
do  jjood  in  ?" 

He  was  naturally  a  quick  man  ;  yet,  by  much 
practice  on  himself,  he  subdued  that  to  such  a 
degree,  that  he  would  never  run  suddenly  into 
any  conclusion  concerning  any  matter  of  im- 
portance. Fcstina  lentil  was  his  beloved  motto, 
which  he  ordered  to  be  engraven  on  the  head 
of  his  staff ;  and  was  often  heard  say,  that  he 
had  observed  many  witty  men  run  into  great 
errors,  because  they  did  not  give  themselves 
time  to  think;  but  the  heat  of  imagination 
making  some  notions  appear  in  good  colours  to 


76  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

them,  they,  v/ithoiit  staying  till  that  cooled, 
were  violently  led  by  the  impulses  it  made  on 
them  :  whereas  calm  and  slow  men  who  pass 
for  dull  in  the  common  estimation,  could  search 
after  truth,  and  find  it  out,  as  with  more  dehbe- 
ration,  so  with  greater  certainty. 

He  laid  aside  the  tenth  penny  of  all  he  got 
for  the  poor  ;  and  took  great  care  to  be  well  in- 
formed of  proper  objects  for  his  charities.  And 
after  he  was  a  judge,  many  of  the  perquisites  of 
his  place,  as  his  dividend  of  the  rule  and  box 
money,  w^ere  sent  by  him  to  the  jails,  to  dis- 
charge poor  prisoners,  who  never  knew  from 
whose  hands  their  relief  came.  It  is  also  a 
custom  for  the  marshal  of  the  king's  bench  to 
present  the  judges  of  that  court  with  a  piece  of 
plate  for  a  new-year's  gift,  that  of  the  chief  jus- 
tice being  larger  than  the  rest.  This  he  intend- 
ed to  have  refused  ;  but  the  other  judges  told 
him,  it  belonged  to  his  office,  and  the  refusing  it 
would  be  a  prejudice  to  his  successors  ;  so  he 
was  persuaded  to  take  it ;  but  he  sent  word  to 
the  marshal,  that,  instead  of  the  plate,  he  should 
bring  him  the  value  of  it  in  money;  and  when 
he  received  it,  he  immediately  sent  it  to  the  pri- 
sons for  the  relief  and  discharge  of  the  poor 
there.  He  usually  invited  his  poor  neighbours 
to  dine  with  him,  and  made  them  sit  at  table 
with  himself :  and  ii^  any  of  them  were  sick,  so 
that  they  could  not  come,  he  would  send  meat 
warm  to  them  from  his  table.  And  he  did  not 
only  relieve  the  poor  in  his  own  parish,  but  sent 
supplies  to  the  neighbouring  parishes,  as  there 


LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  77 

was  occasion  for  it  ;  and  he  treated  them  all 
with  toiulcrnoss  and  familiarity  that  became 
one  who  considered  they  were  of  the  same  na- 
tnre  with  himself,  and  were  reduced  to  no  other 
necessities  but  such  as  he  himself  might  be 
brought  to.  But  for  common  beggars,  if  any 
of  these  came  to  him,  as  he  was  in  his  walks, 
when  he  lived  in  tlie  country,  he  would  ask 
such  as  were  capable  of  working,  why  ihey 
went  about  so  idly.  If  they  answered,  it  was 
because  they  could  find  no  work,  he  often  sent 
them  to  some  field,  to  gather  all  the  stones  in  it, 
and  lay  them  on  a  heap  ;  and  then  would  pay 
them  liberally  for  their  pains.  This  beingdone, 
he  used  to  send  his  carts,  and  caused  them  to 
be  carried  to  such  places  of  the  highway  as 
needed  mending. 

But  when  he  was  in  town,  he  dealt  his  cha- 
rities very  liberally,  even  among  the  street  beg- 
gars ;  and  when  some  told  him,  that  he  thereby 
encouraged  idk-ness,  and  that  most  of  these  were 
notorious  cheats,  he  used  to  answer,  that  he 
believed  most  of  them  were  such  ;  but  among 
tliL-m  there  were  some  that  were  great  objects 
of  charity,  and  pressed  with  grievous  necessi- 
ties ;  and  that  he  had  rather  give  his  alms  to 
tw<*nty  who  mit{ht  be  perhaps  rogues,  than  that 
one  of  the  other  sort  should  perisli  for  want  of 
that  small  relief  which  he  gave  them. 

He  loved  building  much,  which  he  affected 
chiefly,  l)ecause  it  employed  many  poor  people  : 
but  one  thing  was  observed  in  all  his  buildings, 
that  tjio  fhanses  he  made  in  his  houses  were 


78  LIFE   OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

always  from  magnificence  to  usefulness  ;  for  he 
avoided  every  thing  that  looked  like  pomp  or 
vanity,  even  in  the  walls  of  his  houses.  He 
had  good  judgment  in  architecture,  and  an  ex- 
cellent faculty  in  contriving  well. 

He  was  a  gentle  landlord  to  all  his  tenants, 
and  was  ever  ready,  upon  any  reasonable  com- 
plaints, to  make  abate-ments  ;  for  he  was  merci- 
ful as  well  as  righteous.  One  instance  of  this 
was  of  a  widow,  that  lived  in  London,  and  had 
a  small  estate  near  his  house  in  the  country ; 
from  which  her  rents  were  ill  returned  to  her, 
and  at  a  cost,  which  she  could  not  well  bear  :  so 
she  bemoaned  herself  to  him  ;  and  he,  accord- 
ing to  his  readiness  to  assist  all  poor  people, 
told  her,  he  would  order  his  steward  to  take  up 
her  rents,  and  the  returning  them  should  cost 
her  nothing.  But  after  that,  when  there  was  a 
falling  of  rents  in  that  country,  so  that  it  was 
necessary  to  make  abatements  to  the  tenant,  he 
would  have  it  to  lie  on  himself,  and  made  the 
widow  to  be  paid  her  rent  as  fonnerly. 

Another  remarkable  instance  of  his  justice 
and  goodness  was,  that  when  he  found  ill  mo- 
ney had  been  put  into  his  hands,  he  would  never 
suffer  it  to  be  paid  again  ;  for  he  thought  it  was 
no  excuse  for  him  to  put  false  money  in  other 
people's  hands,  because  some  had  put  it  into 
his.  A  great  heap  of  this  he  had  gathered  to- 
gether ;  for  many  had  so  far  abused  his  good- 
ness as  to  mix  base  money  among  the  fees  that 
were  given  him.  It  is  likely  that  he  intended 
to  destroy  it ;  but    some  thieves,  who  had  ob- 


LITK    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  79 

served  it,  broke  into  his  chamber,  and  stole  it, 
thinking  they  had  got  a  prize  ;  which  he  used 
to  tell  with  some  pleasure,  imagining  how  they 
found  themselves  deceived,  when  they  perceived 
what  sort  of  booty  they  had  acquired. 

After  he  was  made  a  judge,  he  would  needs 
pay  more  lor  every  purchase  that  he  made  than 
it  was  worth.  If  it  had  been  but  a  horse  he 
was  to  buy,  he  would  have  outbid  the  price  ; 
and  when  some  represented  to  him,  that  he 
made  ill  bargains,  he  said,  it  became  judges  to 
pay  more  for  what  they  bought  than  the  true 
value  ;  that  so  those  with  whom  they  dealt 
might  not  think  they  had  any  right  to  their  fa- 
vour, by  having  sold  such  things  to  them  at  an 
easy  rate  ;  and  said  it  was  suitable  to  the  repu- 
tation which  a  judge  ought  to  preserve,  to  make 
such  bargains,  that  the  world  might  see  they 
were  not  too  well  used  upon  some  secret  account. 

In  sum,  his  estate  did  show  how  little  he  had 
minded  the  raising  a  great  fortune  :  for  from  a 
liundred  pounds  a  year  he  raised  it  not  quite  to 
nine  hundred  ;  and  of  this  a  very  considerable 
part  came  in  by  his  share  of  Mr.  Selden's  es- 
tate ;  yet  this,  considering  his  great  practice 
whiU^  a  counsellor,  and  his  constant,  frugal,  and 
modest  way  of  living,  was  but  a  small  fortune. 
In  tlie  share  that  fell  to  him  by  Mr.  8elden's 
will,  one  memorable  thing  was  done  by  him, 
with  the  other  executors,  by  which  they  both 
allowed  their  regard  to  their  dead  friend,  and 
their  love  of  the  public.  His  library  was  valued 
at  some  thousands  ol'  pounds,  and  was  believed 


80  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

to  be  one  of  the  most  curious  collections  in  Eu- 
rope ;  so  they  resolved  to  keep  this  entire,  for 
the  honour  of  Selden's  memory,  and  gave  it  to 
the  University  of  Oxford ;  where  a  noble  room 
was  added  to  the  former  library  for  its  recep- 
tion, and  all  due  respects  have  been  since  show- 
ed by  that  great  and  learned  body,  to  those  their 
worthy  benefactors,  who  not  only  parted  so 
generously  with  this  great  treasure,  but  were  a 
little  put  to  it  how  to  oblige  them,  without  cross- 
ing the  will  of  their  dead  friend.  Mr.  Sel- 
den  had  once  intended  to  give  his  library  to  that 
university,  and  had  left  it  so  by  his  will ;  but 
having  occasion  for  a  manuscript  which  belong- 
ed to  their  library,  they  asked  of  him  a  bond  of  a 
thousand  pounds  for  its  restitution ;  this  he  took 
so  ill  at  their  hands,  that  he  struck  out  that  part 
of  his  will,  by  which  he  had  given  them  his 
library,  and  with  some  passion  declared  they 
should  never  have  it.  The  executors  stuck  at 
this  a  little  ;  but  having  considered  better  of  it, 
came  to  this  resolution,  that  they  were  to  be  the 
executors  of  Mr.  Selden's  will,  and  not  of  his 
passion ;  so  they  made  good  what  he  had  in- 
tended in  cold  blood,  and  passed  over  what  his 
passion  had  suggested  to  him. 

The  parting  with  so  many  excellent  books 
would  have  been  as  uneasy  to  our  judge,  as  any 
thing  of  that  nature  could  be,  if  a  pious  regard 
to  his  friend's  memory  had  not  prevailed  over 
him;  for  he  valued  books  and  manuscripts  above 
all  things  in  the  world.  He  himself  had  made 
a  great  and  rare  collection  of  manuscripts  be- 


LIFE   OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  81 

longing  to  the  law  of  England ;  he  was  forty 
years  in  gathering  it  :  he  himself  said,  it  cost 
him  about  fifteen  hundred  pounds,  and  calls  it 
in  his  will  a  treasure  worth  having  and  keep- 
ing, and  not  fit  for  every  man's  view.  These 
all  he  left  to  Lincoln's  Inn. 

By  all  these  instances  it  docs  appear  how 
much  he  was  raised  above  the  world,  or  the 
love  of  it.  But  having  thus  mastered  things 
without  him,  his  next  study  was  to  overcome 
his  own  inclinations.  He  was,  as  he  said  him- 
self, naturally  passionate  ;  I  add,  as  he  said  him- 
self, for  that  appeared  by  no  other  evidence, 
save  that  sometimes  his  colour  would  rise  a  lit- 
tle ;  but  he  so  governed  himself,  that  those  who 
lived  long  about  him  have  told  me,  they  never 
saw  him  disordered  with  anger,  though  he  met 
with  some  trials  that  the  nature  of  man  is  as 
little  able. to  bear  as  any  whatsoever.  There 
was  one  that  did  him  a  great  injury,  which  it 
is  not  necessary  to  mention,  who  coming  after- 
ward to  him  for  his  advice  in  the  settlement  of 
his  estate,  he  gave  it  very  frankly  to  him,  but 
would  accept  of  no  fee  for  it;  and  thereby  show- 
ed both  that  he  could  forgive  as  a  Christian,  and 
that  he  had  the  soul  of  a  gentleman  in  him,  not 
to  take  money  of  one  that  had  wronged  him  so 
heinously.  And  when  he  was  asked  by  one, 
how  he  could  use  a  man  so  kindly  that  had 
wronged  'him  so  much,  his  answer  was,  he 
thanked  God  he  had  learned  to  forget  injuries. 
And  besides  the  great  temper  he  expressed  in 
all  his  public  employments,  in  his  family  he  was 
6 


82  LIFE    OF    SIR   MATTHEW    HALE. 

a  very  gentle  master  :  he  was  tender  of  all  his 
servants  ;  he  never  turned  any  away,  except 
they  were  so  faulty  that  there  was  no  reclaim- 
ing them.  When  any  of  them  had  been  long 
out  of  the  way,  or  had  neglected  any  part  of 
their  duty,  he  would  not  see  them  at  their  first 
coming  home,  and  sometimes  not  till  the  next 
day,  lest  when  his  displeasure  was  quick  upon 
him,  he  might  have  chid  them  indecently  ;  and 
when  he  did  reprove  them,  he  did  it  with  that 
sweetness  and  gravity,  that  it  appeared  he  \yas 
more  concerned  for  their  having  done  a  fault, 
than  for  the  offence  given  by  it  to  himself 
But  if  they  became  immoral  or  unruly,  then  he 
turned  them  away  ;  for  he  said,  He  that  by  his 
place  ought  to  punish  disorders  in  other  people, 
must  by  no  means  suffer  them  in  his  own  house. 
He  advanced  his  servants  according  to  the  time 
they  had  been  about  him  ;  and  would  never  give 
occasion  to  envy  among  them,  by  raising  the 
younger  clerks  above  those  who  had  been  longer 
with  him.  He  treated  them  all  with  great  affec- 
tion, rather  as  a  friend  than  a  master,  giving 
them  often  good  advice  and  instruction.  He 
made  those  who  had  good  places  vmder  him 
give  some  of  their  profits  to  the  other  servants, 
who  had  nothing  but  their  wages.  When  he 
made  his  will,  he  left  legacies  to  every  one  of 
them  ;  but  he  expressed  a  more  particular  kind- 
ness for  one  of  them,  Robert  Gibbo*n,  of  the 
Middle  Temple,  Esq.,  in  whom  he  had  that  con- 
fidence that  he  left  him  one  of  his  executors.  I 
the  rather  mention  him,  because  of  his  noble 


LIFK    OK   SIR    MATTHtW   HALE.  83 

gratitude  to  his  worthy  benefactor  and  master ; 
lor  he  has  been  so  careful  to  preserve  his  me- 
mory, that  as  he  set  those  on  me,  at  whose 
desire  I  undertook  to  write  his  life,  so  he  has 
procured  for  me  a  great  part  of  those  memo- 
rials and  informations  out  of  which  I  have 
composed  it. 

The  judge  was  of  a  most  tender  and  com- 
passionate nature  ;  this  did  eminently  appear  in 
his  trying  and  giving  sentence  upon  criminals, 
in  which  he  was  strictly  careful,  that  not  a  cir- 
cumstance should  be  neglected  which  might 
any  way  clear  the  fact.  He  behaved  him- 
self with  that  regard  to  the  prisoners  which 
became  both  the  gravity  of  a  judge  and  the  pity 
that  was  due  to  men  whose  lives  lay  at  stake, 
so  that  nothing  of  jeering  or  unreasonable  se- 
verity ever  fell  from  him.  He  also  examined 
the  witnesses  in  the  softest  manner,  taking  care 
that  they  should  be  put  under  no  confusion, 
which  might  disorder  their  memory :  and  he 
summed  all  tlie  evidence  so  equally,  when  he 
charg«-d  the  jury,  that  the  criminals  themselves 
never  comi)lained  of  him.  When  it  caine  to 
him  to  give  sentence,  he  did  it  with  that  com- 
poscdness  and  decency,  and  his  speeches  to  the 
prisoners,  directing  them  to  prepare  for  death, 
were  so  woighty,  so  free  from  all  afiectation, 
and  so  serious  and  devout,  that  many  loved  to 
goto  the  trials,  when  he  sat  judge,  to  be  edified 
by  his  speeches  and  behaviour  in  them  ;  and 
used  to  say  they  heard  very  few  such  sermons. 
Hut  ihougli  the  pronouncing  the  sentence  of 


84  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

death  was  the  part  of  his  employment  that  went 
most  against  the  grain  with  him  ;  yet  in  that  he 
could  never  be  mollified  to  any  tenderness  which 
hindered  justice.  When  he  was  once  pressed 
to  recommend  some  whom  he  had  condemned 
to  his  majesty's  mercy  and  pardon,  he  answer- 
ed, he  could  not  think  they  deserved  a  pardon 
whom  he  himself  had  adjudged  to  die  ;  so  that 
all  he  would  do  in  that  kind  was  to  give  the 
king  a  true  account  of  the  circumstances  of  the 
fact ;  after  which  his  majesty  was  to  consider 
■whether  he  would  interpose  his  mercy,  or  let 
justice  take  place. 

His  mercifulness  extended  even  to  his 
beasts  ;  for  when  the  horses  he  had  kept  long 
grew  old,  he  would  not  sufler  them  to  be  sold, 
or  much  wrought ;  but  ordered  his  men  to  turn 
them  loose  on  his  grounds,  and  put  them  only 
to  easy  work,  such  as  going  to  market,  and  the 
like  ;  he  used  old  dogs  also  with  the  same  care  ; 
his  shepherd  having  one  that  was  become  blind 
with  age,  he  intended  to  have  killed  or  lost 
him  ;  but  the  judge  coming  to  hear  of  it  made 
one  of  his  servants  bring  him  home,  and  fed  him 
till  he  died.  And  he  was  scarcely  ever  seen 
more  angry  than  with  one  of  his  servants  for 
neglecting  a  bird  that  he  kept,  so  that  it  died  for 
want  of  food. 

He  was  a  great  encourager  of  all  young  per- 
sons that  he  saw  followed  their  books  diligently, 
to  whom  he  used  to  give  directions  concerning 
the  method  of  their  study,  with  a  humanity  and 
sweetness  that  wrought  much  on  all  that  came 


LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  85 

near  him  ;  and  in  a  smiling  pleasant  way  he 
would  admonish  them,  if  he  saw  any  thing 
amiss  in  them  ;  particularly  if  they  went  too  fine 
in  their  clothes,  he  would  tell  them,  it  did  not 
become  their  profession.  He  was  not  plf"\sed 
to  see  students  wear  long  perriwigs,  or  attorneys 
go  with  swords  ;  so  that  such  young  men  as 
would  not  be  persuaded  to  part  with  those 
vanities,  when  they  went  to  him  laid  them  aside, 
and  went  as  plain  as  they  could,  to  avoid  the 
reproof  which  they  knew  they  might  otherwise 
expect. 

He  was  very  free  and  communicative  in  his 
discourse,  which  he  most  commonly  fixed  on 
some  good  and  useful  subject  ;  and  loved  fol  an 
hour  or  two  at  night  to  be  visited  by  some  of 
his  friends.  He  neither  said  nor  did  any  thing 
with  aflectation  ;  but  used  a  simpHcity  that  was 
both  natural  to  himself,  and  very  easy  to  others  ; 
and  though  he  never  studied  the  modes  of 
civility  or  court  breeding,  yet  he  knew  not  what 
it  was  lo  be  rude  or  harsh  with  any,  except  he 
w^ere  impertinently  addressed  in  matters  of  jus- 
tice ;  then  he  would  raise  his  voice  a  little,  and 
so  shake  off  those  importunities. 

In  his  furniture,  and  the  service  of  his  table, 
and  way  of  living,  he  liked  the  old  plainness  so 
well,  that  as  he  would  set  up  none  of  the  new 
fashions,  so  he  rather  affected  a  coarseness  in 
the  use  of  tlie  old  ones  ;  which  was  more  the 
elTopt  of  his  philosophy  than  disposition,  for  he 
loved  fine  things  too  nuich  at  first.  He  was 
always  of  an  equal  temper,  rather  cheerful  than 


86  LIFE   OF    SIR   MATTHEW    HALE. 

merry.  Many  wondered  to  see  the  evenness 
of  his  deportment,  in  some  very  sad  passages  of 
his  life. 

Having  lost  one  of  his  sons,  the  manner  of 
whose  death  had  some  gTievous  circumstances 
in  it,  one  coming  to  see  him  and  condole,  he 
said  to  him,  those  were  the  effects  of  living 
long  ;  such  must  live  to  see  many  sad  and  un- 
acceptable things  ;  and  having  said  that  he  went 
to  other  discourses  with  his  ordinary  freedom 
of  mind  ;  for  though  he  had  a  temper  so  tender, 
that  sad  things  were  apt  to  make  deep  impres- 
sions upon  him,  yet  the  regard  he  had  to  the 
wisdom  and  providence  of  God,  and  the  just 
estimate  he  made  of  external  things,  did  to  ad- 
miration maintain  the  tranquillity  of  his  mind  ; 
and  he  gave  no  occasion  by  idleness  to  melan- 
choly to  corrupt  his  spirit ;  but  by  the  perpetual 
bent  of  his  thoughts  he  knew  well  how  to  divert 
them  from  being  oppressed  with  the  excesses 
of  sorrow. 

He  had  a  generous  and  noble  idea  of  God  in 
his  mind  ;  and  this  he  found  did  above  all  other 
considerations  preserve  his  quiet ;  and  indeed 
that  was  so  well  established  in  him,  that  no  ac- 
cidents, how  sudden  soever,  were  observed  to 
discompose  him  :  of  which  an  eminent  man  of 
that  profession  gave  me  this  instance  : — In  the 
year  1666,  an  opinion  ran  through  the  nation, 
thai,  the  end  of  the  world  would  come  that  year. 
This,  whether  set  on  by  astrologers,  or  advanced 
by  thoso  who  thought  it  might  have  some  re- 
lation to  the  number  of  the  beast  in  the  Reve- 


LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  87 

lation,  or  promoted  by  men  ot"  ill  designs  to  dis- 
turb the  public  peace,  had  spread  mightily 
among  the  people  :  and  Judge  Hale  going  that 
year  the  western  circuit,  it  happened,  that  as  he 
was  on  the  bench  at  the  assizes,  a  most  terrible 
storm  fell  out  very  unexpectedly,  accompanied 
with  such  flashes  of  lightning  and  claps  of 
thunder  that  the  like  will  hardly  fall  out  in  an 
age.  Upon  which  a  whisper  or  a  rumour  run 
through  the  crowd,  that  now  was  the  world  to 
end,  and  the  day  of  judgment  to  begin  ;  and  at 
this  there  followed  a  general  consternation  in 
tlie  whole  assembly,  and  all  men  forgot  the  bu- 
.siness  they  were  met  about,  and  betook  them- 
selves to  their  prayers.  Tiiis,  added  to  the  hor- 
ror raised  by  the  storm,  looked  very  dismally, 
insomuch  that  my  author,  a  man  of  no  ordinary 
resolution  and  firmness  of  mind,  confessed  that 
it  made  a  great  impression  on  himself.  But  he 
told  me,  that  he  did  observe  the  judge  was  not 
a  whit  affected,  and  was  going  on  with  the  bu- 
siness of  the  court  in  his  ordinary  manner  ;  from 
which  he  made  this  conclusion,  that  his  thoughts 
were  so  well  tlxed,  that  he  believed,  if  the  world 
had  been  really  to  end,  it  would  have  given  him 
no  considerable  disturbance. 

But  I  shall  now  conclude  all  that  I  shall  say 
concerning  him,  with  what  one  of  the  greatest 
men  of  the  profession  of  the  law  sent  me  as  an 
abstract  of  the  character  ho  had  made  of  him, 
upon  long  observation,  and  much  converse  with 
him.  It  was  sent  me,  that  from  thence,  with 
the  other  materials,  I  might  make  such  a  repre- 


88  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW   HALE. 

sentation  of  him  to  the  world  as  he  indeed  de- 
served :  but  I  resolved  not  to  shred  it  out  in 
parcels,  but  to  set  it  down  entirely  as  it  was 
sent  me  ;  hoping,  that  as  the  reader  will  be 
much  delighted  Avith  it,  so  the  noble  person  that 
sent  it  will  not  be  offended  with  me  for  keeping 
it  entire,  and  setting  it  in  the  best  light  I  could. 
It  begins  abruptly,  being  designed  to  supply  the 
defects  of  others,  from  whom  I  had  earlier  and 
more  copious  information. 

"  He  would  never  be  brought  to  discourse  of 
public  matters  in  private  conversation  ;  but  in 
questions  of  law,  when  any  young  lawyer  put  a 
case  to  him,  he  was  very  communicative,  espe- 
cially while  he  was  at  the  bar  :  but  when  he 
came  to  the  bench,  he  grew  more  reserved,  and 
would  never  suffer  his  opinion  in  any  case  to 
be  knov/n,  till  he  was  obliged  to  declare  it  judi- 
cially ;  and  he  concealed  his  opinion  in  great 
cases  so  carefully,  that  the  rest  of  the  Judges 
in  the  same  court  could  never  perceive  it.  His 
reason  was,  because  every  judge  ought  to  give 
sentence  according  to  his  own  persuasion  and 
conscience,  and  not  to  be  swayed  by  any  re- 
spect or  deference  to  another  man's  opinion. 
And  by  this  means  it  hath  happened  sometimes, 
that  when  all  the  barons  of  the  exchequer  had 
delivered  their  opinions,  and  agreed  in  their 
reasons  and  arguments  ;  yet  he  coming  to  speak 
last,  and  differing  in  judgment  from  them,  hath 
expressed  himself  w4th  so  much  weight  and 
solidity,  that  the  barons  have  immediately  re- 
tracted  their   votes,  and  concurred   with  him. 


LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  89 

He  hath  sat  as  a  judge  in  all  the  courts  of  law, 
and  in  two  of  them  as  chief ;  but  still,  wherever 
he  sal,  all  business  of  consequence  followed 
him ;  and  no  man  was  content  to  sit  down  by 
the  judgment  of  any  other  court,  till  the  case 
was  brought  before  him,  to  see  whether  he  were 
of  the  same  mind  ;  and  his  opinion  being  once 
known,  men  did  readily  acquiesce  in  it  ;  and  it 
was  very  rarely  seen  that  any  man  attempted 
to  bring  it  about  again  ;  and  he  that  did  so  did 
it  upon  great  disadvantages,  and  was  always 
looked  upon  as  a  A^ery  contentious  person  :  so 
that  what  Cicero  says  of  Brutus  did  very  often 
happen  to  him,  cfiam  quos  contra  atatait  (pquos 
placdtosqur  (limisit. 

"  Nor  did  men  reverence  his  judgment  and 
opinion  in  courts  of  law  only  ;  but  his  authority 
was  as  great  in  courts  of  equity,  and  the  same 
respect  and  submission  was  paid  to  him  there 
too  :  and  this  appeared  not  only  in  his  own 
court  of  equity  in  the  exchequer  chamber,  but 
in  the  chancery  too  ;  for  thither  he  was  often 
called  to  advise  and  assist  the  lord  chancellor, 
or  lord  keeper  for  the  time  being  :  and  if  the 
cause  were  of  difficult  examination,  or  intricated 
and  entangled  with  variety  of  settlements,  no 
man  ever  showed  a  more  clear  and  discerning 
judgment :  if  it  were  of  great  value,  and  great 
persons  interested  in  it,  no  man  ever  showed 
greater  courage  and  intejrrity  in  laying  aside  all 
respect  of  persons.  When  he  came  to  deliver 
his  opinion,  he  always  put  his  discourse  into 
such  a  method,  that  one  part  of  it  gave  light  to 


90  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

the  Other  ;  and  where  the  proceedings  of  chan- 
cery might  prore  inconvenient  to  the  subject, 
he  never  spared  to  observe  and  reprove  them : 
and  from  his  observations  and  discourses,  the 
chancery  hath  taken  occasion  to  estabhsh  many 
of  those  rules  by  which  it  governs  itself  at  this 
day. 

"  He  did  look  upon  equity  as  a  part  of  the 
common  law,  and  one  of  the  grounds  of  it  ;  and, 
therefore,  as  near  as  he  could,  he  did  always 
reduce  it  to  certain  rules  and  principles,  that 
men  might  study  it  as  a  science,  and  not  think 
the  administration  of  it  had  any  thing  arbitrary 
in  it.  Thus  eminent  was  this  man  in  every 
station ;  and  into  what  court  soever  he  was 
called,  he  quickly  made  it  appear  that  he  de- 
served the  chief  seat  there. 

"  As  great  a  lawyer  as  he  was,  he  would 
never  suffer  the  strictness  of  law  to  prevail 
against  conscience  :  as  great  a  chancellor  as  he 
was,  he  would  make  use  of  all  the  niceties  and 
subtleties  in  law,  when  it  tended  to  support  right 
and  equit3^  But  nothing  was  more  admirable 
in  him  than  his  patience.  He  did  not  affect  the 
reputation  of  quickness  and  despatch,  by  a  hasty 
and  captious  hearing  of  the  counsel :  he  would 
bear  with  the  meanest,  and  gave  every  man  his 
full  scope,  thinking  it  much  better  to  lose  time 
than  patience.  In  summing  up  of  an  evidence 
to  a  jury,  he  would  always  require  the  bar  to 
interrupt  him  if  he  mistook  ;  and  to  put  him  in 
mind  of  it,  if  he  forgot  the  least  circumstance. 
Some  judges  have  been  disturbed  at  this,  as  a 


LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  9.1 

rudeness,  which   he   always  looked  upon  as   a 
service  and  resj)ect  done  to  liim. 

"  His  whole  life  was  nothing  else  but  a  con- 
tinual course  of  labour  and  industry  ;  and  when 
he  could  borrow  any  lime  from  the  public  ser- 
vice, it  was  wholly  employed  either  in  philoso- 
phical or  divine  meditations ;  and  even  that 
was  a  public  service  too,  as  it  hath  proved  ;  for 
they  have  occasioned  his  writing  of  such  trea- 
tises as  are  become  the  choicest  entertainment 
of  wise  and  good  men  ;  and  the  world  hath  rea- 
son to  wish  that  more  of  them  were  printed. 
He  that  considers  the  active  part  of  his  life,  and 
with  what  unwearied  diligence  and  application 
of  mind  he  despatched  all  men's  business  which 
came  under  his  care,  will  wonder  how  he  could 
find  any  time  for  contemplation.  He  that  con- 
siders again  the  various  studies  he  passed 
through,  and  the  many  collections  and  observa- 
tions he  hath  made,  may  as  justly  wonder  how  he 
could  lind  any  time  for  action.  But  no  man  can 
wonder  at  the  exemplary  piety  and  innocence 
of  such  a  life  so  spent  as  this  was  ;  wherein 
as  he  was  careful  to  avoid  every  idle  word, 
so  it  is  manifest  he  never  spent  an  idle  day. 
They  who  come  far  short  of  this  great  man  will 
))•>  apt  enough  to  think  that  this  is  a  panegyric, 
which  indeed  is  a  history,  and  but  a  little  part 
'jf  that  history  which  was  with  groat  truth  to  bo 
r«'lat<'d  of  him.  Men  who  despair  of  attaining 
such  perfection  arc  not  willing  to  believe  that 
.ny  man  else  ever  arrived  at  such  a  height. 
*'  He  was  the  ureatest  lawyer  of  the  ajre,  and 


92  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW   HALE. 

might  have  had  what  practice  he  pleased :  but 
though  he  did  most  conscientiously  affect  the 
labours  of  his  profession,  yet  at  the  same  time 
he  despised  the  gain  of  it ;  and  of  those  profits, 
which  he  would  allow  himself  to  receive,  he 
always  set  apart  a  tenth  penny  for  the  poor, 
which  he  ever  dispensed  with  that  secrecy, 
that  they  who  were  relieved  seldom  or  never 
knew  their  benefactor.  He  took  more  pains  to 
avoid  the  honours  and  preferments  of  the  gown 
than  others  do  to  compass  them.  His  modesty 
was  beyond  all  example  ;  for  where  some  men, 
who  never  attained  to  half  his  knowledge,  have 
been  puffed  up  with  a  high  conceit  of  them- 
selves, and  have  affected  all  occasions  of  rais- 
ing their  own  esteem  by  depreciating  other  men; 
he,  on  the  contrary,  was  the  most  obliging  man 
that  ever  practised.  If  a  young  gentleman  hap- 
pened to  be  retained  to  argue  a  point  in  law, 
where  he  was  on  the  contrary  side,  he  would 
very  often  mend  the  objections,  when  he  came 
to  repeat  them,  and  always  commend  the  gen- 
tleman, if  there  were  room  for  it ;  and  one  good 
word  of  his  was  of  more  advantage  to  a  young 
man  than  all  the  favour  of  the  court  could  be." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

He  was  twice  married  :  his  first  wife  was 
Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Moore,  of  Faley, 
in  Berkshire,  grandchild  to  Sir  Francis  Moore, 


LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  93 

sergeant  at  law:  by  her  he  had  ten  children  ; 
the  ("our  tirst  died  young,  the  other  six  lived  to 
be  ail  married;  and  he  outlived  them  all  except 
his  eldest  daughter  and  his  youngest  son. 

His  eldest  son,  Robert,  married  Frances  the 
daughter  of  Sir  Francis  Chock,  of  Avington  in 
Berkshire  ;  and  they  both  dying  in  a  little  time 
one  after  another,  left  five  children ;  two  sons, 
Matthew  and  Gabriel ;  and  three  daughters, 
Anne,  Mary,  and  Frances  :  and  by  the  judge's 
advice  they  both  made  him  their  executor  ;  so 
lie  took  his  grandchildren  into  his  own  care,  and 
among  them  he  left  his  estate. 

His  second  son,  Matthew,  married  Anne  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  Matthew  Simmonds,  of  Hilsley 
in  Gloucestershire,  who  died  soon  after,  and  left 
one  son  behind  him,  named  Matthew. 

His  third  son,  Thomas,  married  Rebekah  the 
daughter  of  Christian  Le  Brune,  a  Dutch  mer- 
chant, and  died  without  issue. 

His  fourth  son,  Edward,  married  Mary  the 
daughter  of  Edmund  Goodyere,  Esq.,  of  Hey- 
thorp  in  Oxfordshire.  He  had  two  sons  and 
three  daughters. 

His  eldest  daughter,  Mary,  was  married  to 
Edward  Alderly  of  Innishannon,  in  the  county 
of  Cork,  in  Ireland  ;  who,  dying,  left  her  with 
two  sons  and  three  daughters  :  she  was  after- 
ward married  to  Edward  Stephens,  son  to  Ed- 
ward Stephens,  Esq.,  of  Cherington  in  Glouces- 
tcrsiiire. 

His  youngest  daughter,  Elizabeth,  was  mar- 
ried to  Edward  Webb,  Esq.,  barrister  at  law  ; 


94  LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

she  died,  leaving  two  children,  a  son  and  a 
daughter. 

His  second  wife  was  Anne  the  daughter  of 
Mr.  Joseph  Bishop,  of  Faley  in  Berkshire,  by 
whom  he  had  no  children.  He  gives  her  a 
great  character  in  his  will,  as  a  most  dutiful, 
faithful,  and  loving  wife,  and  therefore  trusted 
the  breeding  of  his  grandchildren  to  her  care, 
and  left  her  one  of  his  executors  ;  to  whom  he 
joined  Sir  Robert  Jenkinson  and  Mr.  Gibbon. 
So  much  may  suffice  concerning  those  descend- 
ed from  him. 

In  after  times,  it  is  not  to  be  doubted,  but  it 
will  be  reckoned  no  small  honour  to  descend 
from  him  ;  and  this  has  made  me  more  particu- 
lar in  reckoning  up  his  issue.  I  shall  next  give 
an  account  of  the  issues  of  his  mind,  his  books, 
that  are  either  printed,  or  remain  in  manuscript ; 
for  the  last  of  these,  by  his  will,  he  has  forbid- 
den the  printing  of  any  of  them  after  his  death, 
except  such  as  he  should  give  order  for  in  his 
life  :  but  he  seems  to  have  changed  his  mind 
afterward,  and  to  have  left  it  to  the  discretion  of 
his  executors  which  of  them  might  be  printed  : 
for  though  he  does  not  express  that,  yet  he  or- 
dered by  a  codicil,  that  if  any  book  of  his  writ- 
ing, as  well  touching  the  common  law,  as  other 
subjects,  should  be  printed;  that  what  should 
be  given  for  the  consideration  of  the  copy, 
should  be  divided  into  ten  shares,  of  which  he 
appointed  seven  to  go- among  his  servants,  and 
three  to  those  who  had  copied  them  out,  and 
were  to  look  after  the  impression.     The  reason, 


LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  95 

as  I  liavc  undorstood  it,  that  made  him  so  im- 
Avilliii<i  to  have  any  of  his  works  printed  after 
his  death  was,  that  lie  apj)reiiended  in  the  li- 
censing them,  (which  V.  as  necessary  before  any 
book  could  be  lawlully  printed,  by  a  law  then 
in  force,  but  since  his  death  determined.)  some 
things  might  have  been  struck  out  or  altered; 
which  he  had  observed,  not  without  some  indig- 
nation, had  been  done  to  a  part  of  the  reports 
of  one  whom  he  had  much  esteemed. 

This,  in  matters  of  law,  he  said,  might  prove 
to  be  of  such  mischievous  consequence,  that  he 
thereupon  resolved  none  of  his  writings  should 
be  at  the  mercy  of  licensers  :  and  therefore,  be- 
cause he  was  not  sure  that  they  should  be  pub- 
lished without  expurgations  or  interpolations,  he 
forbade  the  printing  of  any  of  them  ;  in  which 
he  afterward  made  some  alteration  ;  at  least  he 
gave  occasion  by  his  codicil  to  infer  that  he 
altered  his  mind. 

This  I  have  the  more  fully  explained,  that  his 
last  will  may  be  no  way  mibunderstood,  and  that 
his  worthy  executors,  and  his  hopeful  grand- 
children, may  not  conclude  themselves  to  be  un- 
der an  indispensable  obligation  of  depriving  the 
public  of  his  excellent  writings. 

Thus  lived  and  died  Sir  ]\Iatthew  Hale,  the 
renowned  lord  chief  justice  of  England,  He 
had  one  of  the  blessings  of  virtue  in  the  high- 
est measure  of  any  of  the  age,  that  does  not 
always  follow  it  ;  which -was,  that  he  was  uni- 
versally nuich  valued  and  admired  by  men  of  all 
sides  and  persuasions:  for  as  none  could  hate 


96  LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE. 

him,  but  for  his  justice  and  virtues,  so  the  great 
estimation  he  was  generally  in  made  that  few 
durst  undertake  to  defend  so  ungrateful  a  para- 
dox, as  any  thing  said  to  lessen  him  would  have 
appeared  to  be.  His  name  is  scarcely  ever 
mentioned  since  his  death  without  particular 
accents  of  singular  respect.  His  opinion  in 
points  of  law  generally  passes  as  an  uncontrol- 
lable authority,  and  is  often  pleaded  in  all  the 
courts  of  justice  :  and  all  that  knew  him  well 
do  still  speak  of  him  as  one  of  the  most  perfect 
patterns  of  religion  and  virtue  they  ever  saw. 

The  commendations  given  him  by  all  sorts  of 
people  are  such,  that  I  can  hardly  come  under 
the  censures  of  this  age,  for  any  thing  I  have 
said  concerning  him  ;  yet  if  this  book  lives  to 
after-times,  it  will  be  looked  on  perhaps  as  a 
picture  drawn  more  according  to  fancy  and  in- 
vention, than  after  the  life  ;  if  it  were  not  that 
those  who  knew  him  well,  establishing  its 
credit  in  the  present  age,  will  make  it  pass 
down  to  the  next  with  a  clearer  authority. 

I  shall  pursue  his  praise  no  farther  in  my  own 
words,  but  shall  add  what  the  then  lord  chan- 
cellor of  England  said  concerning  him,  when  he 
delivered  the  commission  to  the  Lord  Chief 
Justice  Rainsford,  who  succeeded  him  in  that 
office  ;  which  he  began  in  this  manner  : — 

"  The  vacancy  of  the  seat  of  the  chief  justice 
of  this  court,  and  that  by  a  way  and  means  so 
unusual,  as  the  resignation  of  him  that  lately 
held  it,  and  this  too  proceeding  from  so  deplo- 
rable a  cause  as  the  infirmity  of  that  body  which 


LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW   HALE,  97 

began  to  forsake  the  ablest  mind  that  ever  pre- 
sided here,  hath  filled  the  kingdom  with  lamen- 
tations, and  given  the  king  many  and  pensive 
thoughts,  how  to  supply  that  vacancy  again." 
And  a  little  after,  speaking  to  his  successor,  he 
said,  "  The  ven*'  labours  of  the  place,  and  that 
weight  and  fatigue  of  business  which  attend  it, 
are  no  small  discouragements  ;  for  what  shoul- 
ders may  not  justly  fear  that  burden  which 
made  him  stoop  that  went  before  you  ?  Yet,  I 
confess,  you  have  a  greater  discouragement 
than  the  mere  burden  of  your  place  ;  and  that  is, 
the  inimitable  example  of  your  predecessor. 
Oncrosum  est  succedere  bono  prinsipi,  was  the 
saying  of  him  in  the  panegyric  :  and  you  will 
find  it  so  too,  that  are  to  succeed  such  a  chief 
justice,  of  so  indefatigable  an  industry,  so  invin- 
cible a  patience,  so  exemplary  an  integrity,  and 
so  magnanimous  a  contempt  of  worldly  things, 
without  which  no  man  can  be  truly  great :  and, 
to  all  this,  a  man  that  was  so  absolute  a  master 
of  the  science  of  the  law,  and  even  of  the  most 
abstruse  and  hidden  parts  of  it,  that  one  may 
truly  say  of  his  knowledge  in  the  law,  what  St. 
Austin  said  of  St.  Hierom's  knowledge  in  di- 
vinity, Quod  Hieronymus  nescivit^  nuUus  mortal- 
mm  unquam  scivit.  And  therefore  the  king 
would  not  suffer  himself  to  part  with  so  great  a 
man,  till  he  had  placed  upon  him  all  the  marks 
of  bounty  and  esteem  which  his  retired  and 
weak  condition  was  capable  of." 

To  this  high  character,  in  which  the  expres- 
sions, as  they  well   become   the  eloquence  of 
7 


98  LIFE    OF   SIR    MATTHEW   HALE. 

him  who  pronounced  them,  so  they  do  agree  ex- 
actly to  the  subject,  without  the  abatements  that 
are  often  to  be  made  for  rhetoric,  I  shall  add 
that  part  of  the  lord  chief  justice's  answer,  in 
which  he  speaks  of  his  predecessor, 

"  A  person,  in  M^hom  his  eminent  virtues, 

and  deep  learnings,  have  long  managed  a  con- 
test for  the  superiority,  which  is  not  decided  to 
this  day  ;  nor  will  it  ever  be  determined,  I  sup- 
pose, which  shall  get  the  upper  hand  :  a  person 
that  has  sat  in  this  court  these  many  years,  of 
whose  actions  there  I  have  been  an  eye  and 
ear  witness,  that  by  the  greatness  of  his  learn- 
ing always  charmed  his  auditors  to  reverence  and 
attention  :  a  person  of  whom  I  think  I  may  boldly 
say,  that  as  former  times  cannot  show  any  su- 
perior to  him,  so  I  am  confident  succeeding  and 
future  time  will  never  show  any  equal.  These 
considerations,  heightened  by  what  I  have 
heard  from  your  lordship  concerning  him,  made 
me  anxious  and  doubtful,  and  put  me  to  a  stand, 
how  I  should  succeed  so  able,  so  good,  and  so 
great  a  man.  It  doth  very  much  trouble  me, 
that  I,  who  in  comparison  of  him  am  but  like  a 
candle  lighted  in  the  sunshine,  or  like  a  glow- 
worm at  mid-day,  should  succeed  so  great  a 
person,  that  is  and  will  be  so  eminently  famous 
to  all  posterity.  And  I  must  ever  wear  this 
motto  in  my  breast,  to  comfort  me,  and  in  my 
actions  to  excuse  me  : — 

'  Sequitur,  quatnvis  non  passibus  aequis.'  " 

Thus  were  panegyrics  made  upon  him  while 


LIFE    OF    SIR    MATTHEW    HALE.  99 

yet  alive,  in  that  same  court  of  justice  which 
he  had  so  worthily  governed.  As  he  was  ho- 
noured while  he  lived,  so  he  was  much  lament- 
ed when  he  died  :  and  this  will  still  be  acknow- 
ledged as  a  just  inscription  for  his  memory, 
though  his  modesty  forbad  any  such  to  be  put 
on  his  tomb-stone  : — That  he  was  one  of  the 
greatest  patterns  this  age  has  afforded,  whether 
in  his  private  deportment  as  a  Christian,  or  in 
his  public  employments,  either  at  the  bar  or  on 
the  bench. 


THE    LIFE 


REV.   JOSEPH  ALLEINE. 


The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed. 

Prov.  X,  7. 


rrn  A        "D  A  "D  TJ    \  IV  A 


THE  LIFE 


THE  REV.  JOSEPH  ALLEINE. 


CHAPTER  L 

WRITTEN    BY   AX    EVE    WITNESS. 

Mr.  Joseph  Alleine  was  born  in  Devizes, 
in  Wiltshire,  in  the  year  1633.  During  his 
childhood  he  showed  forth  a  singular  sweetness 
of  disposition,  and  a  remarkable  diligence  in 
every  thing  about  which  he  was  employed. 
The  first  observable  zeal  for  religion  that  ap- 
peared in  him  was  in  the  eleventh  year  of  his 
age ;  about  which  time  he  was  very  diligent  in 
private  prayer,  and  so  fixed  in  that  duty,  that 
he  would  not  be  disturbed  by  the  coming  of 
any  person  accidentally  into  the  places  of  his 
retirement.  This  and  other  fruits  of  a  serious 
and  gracious  spirit  were  the  common  observa- 
tion of  the  family-  From  this  time  the  whole 
course  of  his  youth  was  an  even  thread  of  godly 
conversation,  which  was  rendered  more  amia- 
ble by  his  sweet  and  pleasant  deportment  to- 
ward all  that  he  conversed  with.  While  he 
thus  openly  began  to  run  his  Christian  race,  his 


104  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE. 

brother,  Mr.  Edward  Alleine,  a  worthy  minis- 
ter of  the  gospel,  departed  this  Ufe  ;  whereupon 
he  earnestly  desired  to  be  brought  up  in  pre- 
paration, to  succeed  him  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry.  To  this  good  motion  his  father  gladly 
hearkened,  and  speedily  prepared  to  put  it  in 
execution.  Such  was  his  great  diligence  at 
school  that  he  redeemed  for  his  book  the  time 
allotted  for  recreation.  In  the  space  of  about 
four  years  he  attained  to  very  good  knowledge 
in  the  Latin  and  Greek  tongues,  and  was  by  his 
schoolmaster  adjudged  fit  for  university  studies. 
After  this  he  abode  some  time  with  his  father 
in  the  country,  where  a  worthy  minister  read 
logic  to  him  :  and  when  he  was  about  sixteen 
years  old  he  was  placed  in  Lincoln  College, 
Oxford. 

He  had  not  been  long  in  the  university  be- 
fore a  Wiltshire  place  becoming  void  in  Corpus 
Christi  College,  he  was  chosen  scholar  of  that 
house  ;  the  pregnancy  of  his  parts  assuring  all 
that  his  own  merits  were  the  sole  friends  and 
the  only  mandamus  that  brought  him  in. 

Being  entered  and  settled,  he  gave  early  and 
constant  proofs  of  indefatigable  industry;  sig- 
nalizing thereby  his  love  to  learning,  and  de- 
monstrating how  much  he  abhorred  to  be  found 
a  drone  in  such  a  hive.  He  esteemed  a  college 
another  place  than  a  victualling  house .  and 
coming  into  this  with  a  nobler  design  than  only 
to  take  commons,  he  thought  himself  happy  in 
nothing  so  much  as  the  advantage  which  he 
had  gained  for  attaining  the  best  scholarship. 


LIFE   OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  105 

I  have  known  many  who  in  the  very  places 
which  they  have  got  by  their  parts,  have  lost 
the  parts  which  got  them  their  places  ;  and 
peradventure  had  been  excellent  scholars,  had 
they  never  had  those  encouragements  to  be  so 
which  they  unhappily  won  from  their  competi- 
tors ;  for  idleness  enervates  the  strength  of 
nature,  and  makes  those  logs  which  might  have 
been  Mercuries  ;  but  this  person  was  none  of 
those.  The  quitting  of  himself  so  well  at  the 
election  was  but  a  pledge  and  earnest  of  his 
doing  better  afterward.  He  made  it  appear  to 
all,  that  when  he  stood,  he  stood  not  so  much 
for  a  place  as  for  the  accomplishments  by  his 
future  studiousness  attainable  in  it ;  demeaning 
himself  like  one  who,  even  in  the  days  of  his 
vanity,  well  understood  how  profane  a  thing  it 
is  to  live  in  a  school  of  learning  no  otherwise 
than  as  if  it  were  a  sanctuary  for  laziness,  or  a 
place  privileged  with  nothing  but  leave  and  op- 
portunity to  eat  the  founder's  bread  with  no 
other  sweat  of  the  brow  than  what  is  provoked 
in  a  ball-court. 

Never  had  learning  a  truer  drudge  since  she 
kept  house  in  Oxford.  At  her  work  he  was 
both  day  and  night,  thinking  all  time  too  little, 
no  pains  too  much,  that  he  spent  in  her  service. 
When  but  a  school-boy,  as  I  have  heard,  he 
was  observed  to  be  so  studious  that  he  was 
known  as  much  by  this  periphrasis,  "  The  lad 
that  will  not  play,"  as  by  his  name.  And  surQ 
I  am,  when  in  the  university,  he  was  so  gene- 
rously bookish  that  he   deserved  to   be   called 


106  LIFE   OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

"  the  scholar  who  by  his  good  will  would  do 

nothing  else  but  pray  and  study." 

Courteous  he  was,  and  very  civil  to  all  ac- 
quaintance ;  but  if  they  cajiie  to  visit  him  at 
studying  times,  though  they  were  sure  enough 
to  find  him  within,  yet  withal  so  busy  generally 
with  better  company  as  to  have  no  leisure  to 
let  them  in.  And  if  at  this  they  were  moved, 
and  murmured,  and  went  away  oifended  with 
him,  he  cared  not.  That  notable  principle  of 
Joachimus  Fortius,  which  shut  him  up,  bearing 
him  out,  and  being  his  relief  in  all  such  cases, 
namely,  "  Better  it  is  that  they  should  wonder 
at  thy  rudeness,  than  that  thou  shouldest  lose 
thy  time  ;  for  only  one  or  two  will  take  notice 
of  that,  but  all  posterity  would  be  sensible  of 
this." 

His  appetite  to  his  business  being  that  to 
him  which  alarums  in  their  chambers  are  wont 
to  be  to  others — seldom  it  was  that  he  could  be 
found  in  bed  after  four  in  the  morning  ;  though 
he  had  stayed  up  on  the  same  occasion  on 
which  he  then  rose  till  almost  one  over  night. 

For  though  while  junior  scholar  he  obtained 
many  weekly  sleeping  days  for  others,  yet  in 
many  years  he  could  hardly  vouchsafe  himself 
so  much  as  one. 

And  as  thus  he  begrudged  himself  his  rest, 
so  thus  also  his  very  food  ;  it  being  as  familial 
with  him  to  give  away  his  commons  at  least 
qnce,  as  with  any  others  to  eat  theirs  twice  a 
day :  as  if  he,  who  was  never  satisfied  how  many 
volumes  soever  ho  devoured,  had  looked  upon 


LIFE   OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  107 

it  as  a  kind  of  gluttony  to  eat  that  meal,  the 
time  of  eating  which  might,  without  prejudice 
to  heahh,  have  been  better  spent  upon  a 
book.  Porphyrin's  wish,  that  he  were  able  to 
live  without  eating  and  drinking  at  all,  that  so 
he  might  be  wholly  taken  up  with  nobler  things, 
is  surely  the  wish  of  thousands  in  the  learned 
world.  Certain  I  am  it  was  his  ;  and  that  if  piety 
would  have  suffered  him,  and  they  had  not  been 
such  friends,  he  would  have  fallen  out  with 
God,  for  tying  his  soul  to  such  a  body  as  could 
not  subsist  without  (what  he  would  often  call 
no  better  than  time-consuming  things)  meat, 
and  drink,  and  sleep. 

That  this,  his  laborious  studiousness,  was  as 
delightful  and  pleasant  to  him  as  the  highest 
voluptuousness  can  be  to  the  most  sensual  sot, 
I  conclude,  not  only  from  the  constancy  of  it, 
but  from  his  charging  matrimony,  to  which 
afterward  he  became  a  subject,  with  no  greater 
tyranny  than  tlie  necessity  which  it  laid  upon 
him  of  being  kinder  sometimes  unto  himself 
than  he  was  wont  to  be  in  Oxford.  For,  being 
married,  an  intimate  friend  of  his,  of  the  same 
college,  who  had  thoughts  of  changing  his  con- 
dition, wrote  to  him,  and  in  a  jesting  manner 
desired  of  him  an  account  of  the  inconveniences 
of  marriage  ;  to  whom  he  returned  this  pleasant 
but  very  signiricant  answer :  "  Thou  wouldest 
know  the  inconveniences  of  a  wife  ;  and  I  will 
tell  thee  :  first  of  all,  whereas  thou  risest  con- 
stantly at  four  in  the  morning,  or  before,  she 
will  keep  thee  till  about  six  ;  secondly,  whereas 


108  LIFE   OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

thou  usest  to  study  fourteen  hours  in  the  day  ; 
she  will  bring  thee  to  eight  or  nine  ;  thirdly, 
whereas  thou  art  wont  to  forbear  one  meal  a 
day,  at  least,  for  thy  studies ;  she  will  bring 
thee  to  thy  meat.  If  these  be  not  mischiefs 
enough  to  affright  thee,  I  know  not  what  thou 
art." 

Through  his  industry,  with  God's  blessing 
upon  it,  he  exceedingly  prospered  in  his  stu- 
dies, and  quickly  appeared  a  notable  proficient. 
He  would  often  say  that  he  chiefly  affected  ra- 
tional learning,  valuing  skill  in  languages  only 
for  the  sake  of  things ;  and  those  things  most 
which  were  of  ail  most  likely  to  improve  his 
judgment.  And  the  truth  of  his  words  was 
sufficiently  evident ;  for  all  that  knew  him  knew 
him  to  be  a  good  linguist,  a  smart  disputant,  and 
an  excellent  philosopher.  When  he  performed 
any  academical  exercises,  either  in  the  hall  or 
in  the  schools,  he  seldom  or  never  came  off 
without  the  applause,  or  at  least  approbation, 
of  all  but  the  envious  ;  who  also  themselves, 
even  by  their  very  detractions,  in  spite  of  their 
teeth,  commended  him — there  being  to  the  in 
genuous  no  surer  sign  almost  of  his  having 
acquitted  himself  well,  than  that  such  as  they 
could  not  endure  it  should  have  been  said  so. 

Certain  I  am  his  pregnant  parts  and  early 
accomplishments  were  so  much  taken  notice  of 
in  the  college,  that  so  soon  almost  as  he  was 
bachelor  of  arts,  he  was  even  compelled  to  com- 
mence a  tutor  ;  and  presently  intrusted  (to  speak 
within  compass)  with  as  great  a  number  of  pu- 


LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  109 

pils  as  any  in  the  house.  Some  of  his  scholars 
were  soon  graduates  in  divinity,  and  singular 
ornaments  of  that  flourishing  society ;  (as  Mr. 
John  Rosewell,  B.  D.,  Mr.  Nicholas  Horseman, 
B.  D.,  &LC. ;)  others  of  them,  who  left  the  uni- 
versity, have  not  gone  without  considerable  pre- 
ferments in  the  church ;  as  Mr.  John  Peachil, 
lately  lecturer  at  St.  Clements  Danes,  without 
Temple-bar  ;  ^Ix.  Christopher  Coward,  Preben- 
dary of  Wells,  <fec.  And  I  make  no  question 
but  all  of  them  who  are  yet  alive  honour  his 
memory,  and  will  at  any  time  be  ready  to  ex- 
press the  grateful  sense  of  the  advantage  which 
ihey  received  from  his  prudent  instructions  and 
pious  example. 

It  is  true  indeed  that  he  had  no  advancement 
proportionable  to  his  merits  while  he  staid 
among  us  at  the  university ;  but  if  there  were 
any  thing  to  be  blamed  for  that,  it  was  nothing 
else  but  his  own  self-denial.  For  a  chaplain's 
place  becoming  void,  he  chose  that  before  a  fel- 
lowship, which  he  knew  well  enough  in  a  little 
time  would,  of  course,  and  by  right,  have  been 
certainly  his.  And  this  choice  having  been 
made  by  him  at  flrst  deliberately,  he  never  after 
in  the  least  repented,  but  rather  often  reflected 
on  it  with  great  content  and  comfort.  For  he 
had  always  such  a  huge  aflection  for  prayer, 
that  he  and  his  friend  could  hardly  ever  walk 
and  discourse  together,  but,  before  they  parted, 
at  his  desire,  they  must  also  go  and  pray  toge- 
ther. And  what  a  pleasure  tiien  may  we  think 
it  was  to  him  twice  a  day  to  engage  a  whole 


110  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEIXE. 

society  in  so  dear  an  exercise,  with  a  "  Let  us 
pray !"  Frequently  indeed  have  I  heard  him 
say,  that  he  prized  the  employment  above  that 
which  we  generally  reckoned  much  better  pre- 
ferment, and  looked  upon  it  as  his  honour  and 
happiness. 

And  it  was  well  with  us  that  so  he  did ;  it 
being  hardly  possible  that  the  duty  of  the  place 
should  have  been  by  any  discharged  better  than 
it  was  by  him.  We  were  not  used  to  a  great 
deal  of  noise,  vain  tautologies,  crude  effusions, 
unintelligible  sense,  or  mysterious  nonsense, 
instead  of  prayer.  His  spirit  was  serious ;  his 
gesture  reverent ;  his  words  few,  but  premedi- 
tated and  well  weighed,  pithy,  solid,  and  to  the 
full  expressive  of  his  truly  humble  and  earnest 
desire.  He  loathed  the  sauciness  which  went 
by  the  name  of  holy  boldness,  and  drew  near  to 
God  not  as  if  he  had  been  going  to  play  with 
his  mate,  but  as  became  a  creature  overawed 
with  the  majesty  of  his  great  Creator.  He  pray- 
ed with  the  spirit  and  the  understanding  also  ; 
confessed  sin  with  real  grief,  inward  hatred, 
and  detestation  ;  and  begged  the  mercies  he 
came  to  beg,  like  one  that  felt  the  want  and 
worth  of  what  he  begged  ;  with  faith,  and  fer- 
vency, and  true  importunity ;  his  affections 
working,  but  working  rationally  as  well  as 
strongly. 

And  this  (as  I  doubt  not  it  prevailed  above) 
had  on  us  the  more  powerful  influence,  because 
we  found  it  to  be  no  mere  religious  fit,  but  ex- 
actly agreeable  to  the  habitual  frame  and  dis- 


LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  Ill 

position  of  the  man.  It  is  a  shrewd  reflection 
which  Suidas  makes  on  the  philosopher  Sallusl, 
how  truly  I  know  not,  for  he  is  neither  civil 
nor  just  to  some.  "  Sallust's  carriage  was 
strange  to  all  men  ;  for  though,  when  he  read 
his  philosophy  lectures,  he  did  it  gravely  and 
very  solemnly  ;  yet  at  other  times  he  played 
the  child,  and  that  most  ridiculously."  And 
there  are  too  many,  both  chaplains  and  preach- 
ers, who  justly  merit  as  bad  a  censure.  While 
praying  and  preaching,  they  appear  demure, 
and  mightily  devout ;  yet  take  them  out  of  their 
desks  and  pulptts,  and  they  are  as  light,  as  vain 
and  frothy,  yea,  dissolute,  as  any  others.  But 
it  was  not  so  with  this  person  :  for  he  was  al- 
ways composed  and  serious,  grave  and  reve- 
rend, above  his  age.  He  set  God  always  be- 
fore him,  and  wherever  he  was,  laboured  to 
live  as  in  his  presence.  It  was  his  solemn 
business  to  be  religious  ;  his  great  endeavour 
to  walk  by  rule  ;  his  main  design,  in  all  his 
ways,  to  approve  himself  unto  his  Father,  which 
saw  in  secret ;  and  his  daily  exercise  to  keep 
a  conscience  void  of  offence  both  toward  God 
and  toward  man. 

As  for  the  pleasures  and  delights  of  sin,  he 
highly  nauseated  and  abhorred  them  :  he  was 
so  above  them  that  he  could  not  endure  them. 
How  sweet  was  it  to  him,  (as  said  once  St. 
Austin,)  to  want  those  sweets  !  And  as  for  law- 
ful delights  and  pleasures,  although  he  did  divert 
unto,  and  now  and  then  solace  a  while,  and 
entertain  himself  with  them,  vet  how  little  was 


112  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

his  heart  to  them,  or  was  he  generally  taken 
with  them !  He  was  as  formal  in  using  them 
as  some  Christians  are  in  God's  service :  as 
they  sometimes  pray,  as  if  they  prayed  not ; 
and  hear,  as  if  they  heard  not ;  so  he  rejoiced 
in  such  things  as  these,  as  if  he  rejoiced  not. 
He  looked  upon  them,  compared  with  others,  as 
upon  his  righteousness  compared  with  Christ's  ; 
as  very  vanity,  yea,  dross  and  dung.  His  con- 
versation being  in  heaven,  his  sweetest  comforts 
and  most  prized  refreshments  were  divine  and 
heavenly.  His  soul  took  often  a  delightful 
prospect  of  eternity,  viewing  the  regions  of 
bliss  and  glory,  looking  wishfully  at  her  Father's 
seat,  the  mount  of  joy,  aspiring  after  a  nobler 
mansion,  and  cherishing  herself  in  a  comfort- 
able persuasion,  that  it  would  not  be  long  ere 
she  should  be  in  it.  And  hereupon  as  he  little 
minded  any  earthly  glory,  so  he  little  minded  or 
cared  for  the  poor  and  empty  delights  of  sense. 

However,  he  was  not  morosely  pious,  nor  did 
his  atTection  to  God  and  goodness,  and  the  things 
above,  make  him  either  a  Timon  or  a  cynic.  It 
had  not  then  been  so  true  and  genuine,  and  of 
so  right  a  kind,  as  it  was.  Homilitical  virtue 
he  as  much  excelled  in  as  any  other  ;  and  the 
decried  morality  found  ever  with  him  very  great 
respect,  being  recognised  as  an  integral  part  of 
his  religion. 

He  was  of  as  sweet  a  disposition,  and  of  as 
highly  civil  a  conversation,  as  a  man  subject  to 
the  common  frailties  of  human  nature  almost 
could  be.     He  had  scarcely  a  gesture  which  did 


LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  113 

not  seem  to  speak,  and,  by  a  powerful  and 
charming  rhetoric,  affect  all  with  whom  he  con- 
versed. Were  it  not  that  he  had  so  many  other 
moral  perfections  and  excellences  besides  that, 
it  might  as  truly  be  said  of  him,  as  by  the  his- 
torian was  of  the  emperor,  in  respect  of  his 
clemency,  that  he  was  made  up  as  it  were  of 
nothing  else  but  courtesy  and  affability. 

For  a  friend,  I  think  I  may  safely  say,  he 
was  one  of  the  truest  that  ever  person  had  inte- 
rest in  ;  and  withal,  as  pleasant  as  a  serious- 
Christian  could  well  wish.  He  loved  not  rash- 
ly ;  but  where  he  loved,  he  loved  entirely ;  and 
whoever  came  to  be  entertained  in  his  affec- 
tions were  sure  to  find  a  warm  lodging.  There 
was  no  more  but  only  one  thing,  which  he 
thought  too  much  for  any,  for  whom  he  thought 
not  his  love  too  good.  He  could  not  sin,  know- 
ingly and  willingly,  for  any  friend  he  had  on 
earth.  So  far  as  lawfully  and  conscientiously 
he  might  do  any  thing,  he  stuck  at  nothing 
wherein  he  might  serve,  please,  or  gratify  them 
whom  he  loved. 

And  yet  his  love  was  not  engrossed  by  his 
friends  only  ;  for  while  to  them  he  showed  him- 
self friendly,  good  nature  as  well  as  Christian- 
ity obliged  him  lo  be  kind  to  all,  and  according 
to  his  ability  to  the  poor  bountiful.  He  was  too 
frugal  to  throw  away  his  charity ;  yet  not  so 
covetous  as  to  withhold  it  when  he  met  with 
objects  to  whom  it  was  due.  He  did  not  think 
the  little  he  had  so  much  his  own,  as  that  his 
necessitous  brethren  might  not  claim  a  part  in 
8 


114  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

it ;  and  therefore  gave  them  as  if  he  had  been 
paying  debts,  and  not  bestowing  ahns.  But  of 
all  most  admirable  was  his  affection  to  the  souls 
of  others,  and  his  desire  to  do  good  to  them. 

The  sage  Pythagoras  gave  this  very  mystical 
but  wise  advice  unto  his  scholars,  "  By  no 
means  to  eat  their  own  brains  ;"  intending  by 
it,  as  it  is  conceived,  that  they  should  not  keep 
their  reason,  of  which  the  brain  is  an  immedi- 
ate instrument,  to  themselves,  but  employ  it  for 
the  advantage  of  others.  And  surely  this  per- 
son did  forbear  to  eat ;  but,  by  his  abstinence, 
fed  many  others  with  his  enlightened  and  im- 
proved reason.  Some  there  are,  to  my  know- 
ledge, who  verily  think  they  should  never  have 
found  the  way  to  live,  to  live  for  ever,  if  he  had 
lived  unto  himself.  Eminent  was  his  charity 
to  the  poor  prisoners  in  Oxford  jail ;  among 
whom  first,  as  the  Rev.  Mr.  Perkins  did  at  Cam- 
bridge, of  his  own  accord  he  began  to  preach, 
and  held  on  constantly  while  he  remained  in 
town  once  a  fortnight,  for  a  year  and  upward ; 
encouraging  them  to  give  attendance  on  his  mi- 
nistry, by  a  considerable  allowance  of  bread, 
that  week  he  preached,  at  his  proper  cost  and 
charges.  Frequent  visits  also  was  he  used  to 
make,  at  other  times,  to  other  persons  in  the 
M'orld  that  were  but  mean  and  low  ;  his  main 
design,  together  with  the  relieving  of  their  tem- 
poral wants,  being  to  assist  their  souls,  and 
help  them  forward  in  their  way  to  heaven. 
And  indeed,  in  all  his  converse,  wherever  he 
M'as,   he    was    like   fire,    warming,    refreshing, 


LIFK    OF   JOSEPH    ALLELVE.  115 

quickening  all  that  were  about  him,  and  kind- 
liniT  in  them  the  like  zeal  for  God  and  goodness 
which  he  had  in  himself.  Whoever  they  were 
that  came  to  visit,  or  to  be  acquainted  with  him, 
it  was  their  fault  if  they  got  not  by  him  so  much 
good  as  to  be  for  ever  the  better  for  him.  It 
was  hardly  possible  to  be  in  his  company,  and 
not  to  hear  such  things  from  him,  as,  if  well 
weighed,  might  have  been  enough  to  make  one 
out  of  conceit  with  sin,  and  in  love  with  virtue, 
as  long  as  one  lived.  Though  he  did  not  say, 
as  Titus  once,  yet  by  his  actions  we  may  judge 
he  thought,  that  he  had  even  quite  lost  a  day, 
when  none  had  gained  somewhat  by  him.  He 
lived  as  if  he  had  been  quickened  with  that 
saying,  which  I  have  somewhere  met  with  in 
TertuUian,  "  To  what  purpose  is  it  to  live,  and 
not  to  live  to  some  good  purpose  ?" 

But  this  ardent  love  for  the  souls  of  men 
quickly  deprived  us  of  his  company.  It  carried 
him  dov/n  into  the  country,  where  how  he  de- 
meaned and  carried  himself  let  others  speak. 


CHAPTER  11. 

BV    THE    REV.    RICHARD    ALLEINE,   WHO    WAS 
NEARLY    RELATED    TO    HI.M. 

Of  his  extraction  I  shall  say  but  little.  He 
was 'the  son  of  a  godly  father,  Mr.  Toby  Al- 
Ieinc,some  time  of  the  Devizes  ;  an  understand- 
ing, affeclionale,  prudent,  and  signally  humble 


116  LIFE   Of   JOSEPH   ALLEIXE. 

and  experienced  Christian  ;  who  died  suddenly, 
but  sweetly  ;  his  son  surviving  him  not  above  a 
year  or  two.  He,  having  been  languishing  for 
some  little  time,  at  length  seemed  to  be  on  the 
recovery,  and  went  about  his  house.  On  the 
morning  before  he  died,  he  arose  about  four  ; 
about  ten  or  eleven  he  came  down  out  of  his 
closet)  and  called  for  something  to  eat,  which 
being  prepared,  he  gave  thanks,  but  could  not 
eat  any  thing.  His  wife  perceiving  a  sudden 
change  in  him,  persuaded  him  to  go  to  his  bed. 
He  answered,  "  No,  but  I  will  die  in  my  chair ; 
and  I  am  not  afraid  to  die."  He  sat  down,  and 
only  said,  "  My  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God  ;" 
and  then  he  closed  his  eyes  with  his  own  hands, 
and  died  immediately.  No  more  of  the  father. 
Concerning  his  son  I  shall  speak,  what  he  was, 
and  what  his  temper  and  behaviour  were,  as  a 
man,  as  a  Christian,  as  a  minister. 

As  a  man,  he  was  of  quick  natural  parts,  and 
great  acquired  abilities  ;  concerning  which  I 
shall  need  say  no  more,  there  being  a  fuller  ac- 
count given  by  another  hand.     He  was  also 

Of  a  composed,  grave,  and  serious  temper 
and  behaviour ;  not  at  all  morose,  but  full  of 
candour ;  free,  affable,  cheerful,  and  courteous. 

As  a  Christian,  he  was,  for  exemplary  holi- 
ness and  heavenliness  of  mind  and  life,  much 
elevated  above  the  ordinary  rank.  He  lived 
much  in  delightful  communion  with  God  ;  his 
soul  was  greatly  exercised  in  divine  contem- 
plation ;  and  he  would  sometimes  speak  (to 
provoke  others,    whom   he    wished   the    same 


LIFE   OF   JOSEPH   ALLEIXE.  117 

delights,  to  the  same  exercise)  what  inefTable 
pleasure,  sweetness,  and  satisfaction  his  soul 
had  found  in  his  stated  meditations  on  the 
divine  attributes,  distinctly  one  by  one.  In  his 
discourses  he  would  speak  much  and  passion- 
ately to  the  commendintJ^  and  exalting  of  the 
divine  goodness,  and  of  the  inexpressible  ten- 
derness of  the  divine  love.  In  prayer  he  was 
not  ordinarily  so  much  in  confession  or  com- 
plaining of  corruption  and  infirmities,  (though 
he  expressed  a  due  sense  of  these,)  as  in  the 
admiring  and  praising  of  God  for  his  infinitely 
glorious  perfections  ;  in  the  mention  of  his  won- 
derful works,  particularly  of  those  wonders  of 
his  love  revealed  in  Jesus  Christ.  In  some  of 
his  letters  to  me,  when  he  had  been  speaking 
of  the  grace  and  goodness  of  God,  (with  the 
sense  whereof  he  would  seem  to  be  even  quite 
swallowed  up,)  he  would  break  off  with  some 
such  expressions  as  these  :  "  I  am  full  of  the 
mercies  of  the  Lord.  O  love  the  Lord  for  me, 
()  praise  the  Lord  for  my  sake.  O  help  me, 
help  me,  to  praise  the  Lord  !" 

His  whole  life  was  adorned  and  beautified 
with  the  admirable  lustre  of  particular  personal 
graces. 

He  was  a  man  of  love.  His  sweet,  amicable, 
and  courteous  converse  was  such  as  rendered 
him  the  delight  of  his  acquaintance,  and  made 
way  for  the  entertainnjent  both  of  his  serious 
counsels  and  severer  reproofs.  He  grew  dear 
to  the  saints  that  knew  him,  because  they  saw 
in  his  very  face,  and  in  all  his  carriage,  how 


118  LIFE   OF   JOSEPH   ALLEINE. 

very  dear  they  were  to  him.  His  compassion 
to  those  in  distress,  his  bounty  to  those  in  want, 
(wherein  he  abounded  beyond  his  abiUty,)  his 
forbearance  in  case  of  offences,  his  affectionate 
language  and  conduct,  his  readiness  to  all 
obliging  offices  of  love  to  his  relations,  to  his 
friends,  to  strangers,  to  enemies,  evidently  de- 
clared how  he  loved  them.  Especially  his  love 
was  let  forth  in  fuller  streams  upon  the  congre- 
gation where  he  exercised  his  ministry.  The 
people  of  his  care  were  the  people  of  his  delight. 
His  ardent  longing  lor  their  souls;  his  rejoicing 
in  their  souls'  prosperity;  his  bleedings  and 
breakings  of  soul  under  any  of  their  falls  and 
infirmities;  his  incessant  labours  among  them, 
both  publicly  and  from  house  to  house ;  his  fre- 
quent and  affectionate  letters  to  them  when  he 
was  absent ;  his  earnest  desire  to  live  and  die, 
and  be  buried  among  them,  (declaring  to  them, 
that  if  he  died  within  fifty  miles  of  Taunton,  his 
will  was  to  be  brought  and  buried  there,  that  his 
bones  might  be  laid  with  their  bones,  his  dust 
mingled  with  their  dust,)  these  all  declare  how 
greatly  they  were  in  his  heart. 

He  was  a  man  of  courage.  He  feared  no 
dangers  in  the  way  of  his  duty,  knowing  that 
"  he  that  walks  uprightly  walks  surely."  In 
cases  less  clear, he  was  very  inquisitive  to  under- 
stand his  way,  and  then  he  fixed  without  fear. 

He  feared  not  the  faces  of  men,  but  where 
occasion  was  he  was  bold  in  admonishing,  and 
faithful  in  reproving ;  which  ungrateful  duty  he 
managed  with  such  prudence,  and  such  expres- 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  119 

sions  of  love  and  compassion  to  souls,  as  made 
his  way  into  hearts  more  easy,  and  his  work 
more  successful. 

He  was  a  son  of  peace  ;  both  a  zealous 
peace-maker  among  differing  brethren,  in  case 
of  personal  quarrels  and  contentions  ;  and  also 
of  sober  and  peaceful  principles,  and  a  healing 
spirit,  as  to  parties  or  factions  upon  the  account 
of  religion.  He  had  an  awful  and  reverend  re- 
gard for  magistrates,  abhorring  all  provoking 
and  insolent  expressions,  or  mutinous  and 
tumultuous  actions  against  them. 

He  was  a  man  of  truth  and  righteousness; 
both  as  to  his  own  personal  practice,  and  also 
was  much  in  pn'ssing  it  upon  others,  especially 
professors  of  religion,  to  be  exemplarily  just  in 
their  dealings,  and  true  in  their  words  ;  to  be 
wary  in  promising,  and  punctual  in  performing. 
O  how  often  and  passionately  have  I  heard  him 
bewail  the  sins  of  promise-breaking  and  deceitful 
dealing  !  whereof  such  as  he  hath  known  to  be 
guilty  have  understood  both  by  word  and  writ- 
ing how  much  his  soul  was  grieved  at  them, 
for  the  wrong  they  did  hereby  to  their  own 
souls  especially,  and  the  reproach  they  brought 
upon  the  gospel  of  our  Lord. 

He  was  of  grenl  patience.  To  say  nothing  of 
his  behaviour  under  suHerings  of  other  kinds, 
his  great  weakness,  and  lotig  laniruishing  for 
some  years  toj^ether.  and  his  constant  serenity, 
calmness,  and  quietness  of  spirit,  in  all  that  time, 
so  far  from  the  least  touch  of  murmuring,  that  he 
was  still  blessinir  tl»e  Lord  for  his  tender  deal- 


120  LIFE   OF   JOSEPH   ALLEINE. 

ings  with  him, — have   given  the  world  a  full 
proof  that  he  was  of  a  patient  spirit. 

He  was  eminent  in  liberality.  He  not  only 
did  but  devised  liberal  things,  and  by  liberal 
things  did  he  stand.  He  studied  and  consider- 
ed how  he  might  both  give  himself,  and  procure 
from  others  relief  for  those  in  want.  He  gave 
much  alms  daily,  both  in  the  place  where  he 
lived,  and  wherever  he  came.  When  there 
were  collections  at  any  time  for  pious  and 
charitable  uses,  he  stirred  up  others  to  bountiful 
giving,  both  By  word  and  also  by  his  example. 
In  the  collection  for  the  fire  in  London,  he  gave 
publicly  such  a  liberal  proportion  as  he  thought 
meet  to  be  an  example  to  others  ;  and  (as  I 
came  occasionally  to  understand)  lest  it  should 
be  misjudged  he  had  been  known  to  give  more, 
he  gave  more  than  twice  as  much  secretly. 
He  distributed  much  among  his  relations.  His 
aged  father,  and  divers  of  his  brethren,  with  their 
large  families,  being  fallen  into  decay,  he  took 
great  care  for  them  all,  and  gave  education  to 
some,  pensions  to  others,  portions  to  others  of 
them ;  and  notwithstanding  all  this,  he  had  but 
a  very  small  stock  to  begin  upon,  and  never 
above  eighty  pounds  per  annum,  that  I  know  of, 
and  near  the  one  half  of  his  time  not  above 
half  so  much  :  only  by  the  industry  of  his  wife, 
who  for  divers  years  kept  a  boarding  school, 
his  income  was  for  that  time  considerably  en- 
larged. He  took  great  pains  in  journeyings 
abroad  to  many  gentlemen,  and  other  rich  men 
in  the  country,  to  procure   a  standing  supply 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  121 

for  such  nonconforming  ministers  as  were  in 
want. 

He  was  of  an  active  spirit.  He  went  about 
doing  good.  As  he  was  abundant  and  inces- 
sant in  his  labours  in  the  congregation  where  he 
lived  ;  so  wherever  he  came,  he  would  be  scat- 
tering some  good  seed,  not  only  among  adults, 
but  he  would  be  dealing  much  with  the  children 
in  those  famihes  into  which  he  came,  asking 
them  questions,  giving  them  counsel,  and  some- 
times leaving  them  his  counsel  in  writing.  In 
his  own  family  (which  was  great  while  his  wife 
kept  boarders)  he  was  exceedingly  industrious  ; 
the  gravity  of  his  carriage,  contempered  with 
much  sweetness  and  affability  toward  those 
young  ones,  begat  in  many  of  them  the  awe  and 
love  as  of  children  to  their  father,  and  made 
way  for  the  success  of  his  endeavours  with 
them  ;  which  was  considerable  upon  several  of 
them.  At  Bath,  while  he  lay  sick  there,  he 
sent  for  many  of  the  poor,  both  old  and  chil- 
dren, and  gave  them  catechisms,  engaging  them 
to  learn  them,  and  give  him  an  account  ;  who 
came  cheerfully  and  frequently  to  him,  being 
encouraged  hereto  by  his  familiar  and  winning 
carriage,  his  giving  them  money,  his  feeding 
and  feasting  them.  He  would  sometimes  say, 
"  It  is  a  pity  that  counsel  of  our  Lord,  (Luke  xvi, 
13,)  of  feasting  the  poor,  was  no  more  ])ractised 
among  Christians." 

He  was  of  an  humble  spirit.  Though  God 
had  so  exceedingly  lifted  him  up  in  the  hearts 
of  others,  yet  he  was  not  puffed  up  in  his  own. 


123  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE. 

He  was  low  in  his  own  eyes,  and  despised  the 
praise  of  men.  His  whole  conduct  was  with- 
out the  least  ostentation,  and  he  was  of  great 
condescension  to  the  weakest  or  meanest. 
Once  or  twice  he  complained  to  me  of  the  pride 
of  his  heart :  I  (judging  it  to  proceed  rather 
from  a  holy  jealousy  of  himself,  and  a  tender- 
ness of  the  least  spark  of  that  evil,  than  from 
any  power  it  had  upon  him)  replied  to  him,  as 
I  remember,  to  this  purpose  :  If  he  had  a  proud 
heart,  he  had  it  to  himself;  for  none  else  could 
perceive  it.  But  he  answered,  "  Some  men 
that  are  proud  enough  have  more  wit  than  to 
let  every  one  know  it."  Another  time,  making 
the  same  complaint  in  a  letter  to  me,  he  added 
this  :  "  But  my  naughty  heart,  while  I  am 
writing  this,  is  in  hope  you  will  not  believe 
me."  So  watchful  was  he  as  to  espy  and  check 
the  least  motions  of  that  sin  which  he  so  much 
abhorred. 

As  a  minister.  He  was  settled  in  Taunton 
Magdalen,  as  an  assistant  to  the  reverend  pas- 
tor there  ;  with  whom,  as  a  son  with  the  father, 
he  served  in  the  gospel.  I  shall  say  nothing 
here,  there  being  a  large  account  given  under 
the  hand  of  that  worthy  person. 

But  besides  his  labours  in  that  oreat  congre- 
gation, in  which  alone  he  was  fixed,  the  care 
for  many  other  congregations  was  daily  upon 
him.  He  went  forth  frequently  into  several 
places  about  the  country,  among  the  poor  igno- 
rant people  that  lived  in  dark  corners,  and  had 
none  to  take  care  of  them  ;  and  both  preached 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    AELEIXE.  123 

to  them  himself,  and  stirred  up  many  of  his 
brethren,  whose  forward  minds  readily  joined 
with  him,  to  set  up  standing  lectures  among 
them.  He  had  an  eye  to  poor  Wales  ;  and  had 
an  influence  upon  the  sending  over  some  mi- 
nisters to  them.  He  resolved  also  to  go  and 
spend  some  time  among  them  himself;  and  by 
all  the  dissuasions  of  his  friends,  from  his  great 
weakness  and  unfitness  for  travel,  he  was  hardlv 
withheld  from  his  purpose. 


CHAPTER  in. 

BY   MR.  GEORGE    XEWTO.V,    THE  REVEREN'D    PAS- 
TOR   WHOSE    ASSISTANT    HE  WAS. 

Mr.  Joseph  Alleixe  came  to  my  assistance 
in  the  year  1655,  being  then  in  the  one  and 
twentieth  year  of  his  age  ;  and  we  continued 
together  with  much  mutual  satisfaction. 

1  soon  observed  him  to  be  a  young  man  of 
singular  accomplishments,  natural  and  acquired : 
his  intellectuals  solid,  his  memory  strong,  his 
affections  lively,  his  learning  much  beyond  the 
ordinary  size  ;  and  above  all,  his  holiness  emi- 
ii»*nt.  his  conversation  exemplary:  in  brief,  he 
iiad  a  good  head,  and  a  belter  heart. 

He  spent  a  considerable  part  of  his  time  in 
private  converse  with  God  and  his  own  soul  : 
lie  delighted  very  much  to  perform  his  secret 
devotions  in  the  view  of  heaven,  and  the  open 


124  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE. 

air,  when  he  could  find  advantages  fit  for  his 
purpose.  He  used  to  keep  many  days  alone  ; 
and  then  a  private  room  would  not  content  him, 
but  if  he  could  he  would  withdraw  himself  to  a 
solitary  house  that  had  no  inhabitant  in  it :  and 
herein  he  was  gratified  often  by  some  private 
friends  of  his,  to  whom  he  did  not  impart  his 
design.  Perhaps  it  was  that  he  might  freely 
use  his  A'oice  as  his  affections  led  him,  without 
such  prudential  considerations  and  restraints  as 
would  have  been  necessary  in  another  place  ; 
and  that  he  might  converse  with  God  without 
any  avocation  or  distraction. 

His  conversation  with  others  was  always 
mingled  with  heavenly  and  holy  discourses. 
He  was  ready  to  instruct,  to  exhort,  and  to  re- 
prove, which  he  never  failed  to  do,  when  he 
thought  it  necessary,  \vhatever  the  event  might 
be.  But  he  performed  this  usually  with  such 
respect,  humility,  tenderness,  self-condemna- 
tion, and  compassion,  that  a  reproof  from  him 
seldom  miscarried. 

In  the  houses  where  he  sojourned,  their  hands 
fed  one,  but  his  lips  fed  many.  God  freely 
poured  grace  into  his  lips  ;  and  he  freely  poured 
it  out.  None  could  live  quietly  in  any  visible 
and  open  sin  under  his  inspection.  When  he 
came  to  any  house  to  take  up  his  abode  there, 
he  brought  salvation  with  him  ;  when  he  de- 
parted, he  left  salvation  behind  him.  His 
manner  was,  when  he  v/as  ready  to  depart, 
and  to  transplant  himself  into  some  other 
family,  (as  that  the  exigence  of  his  condition 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  125 

and  the  time  did  more  than  once  constrain  him 
to,)  to  call  the  people  one  by  one  into  his  cham- 
ber;  from  whence  it  was  observed  that  scarcely 
any  one  returned  with  dry  eyes. 

In  matters  of  religion  and  the  first  table,  his 
strictness  was  so  exemplary  (which  was  near 
to  rigour)  that  I  have  scarcely  known  any  of  his 
years  keep  pace  with  him.  Surely  he  did  more 
than  others.  His  righteousness  exceeded,  not 
the  publican  only,  but  the  Pharisees  too.  He 
was  much  taken  with  Monsieur  de  Renty, 
(whose  life  he  read  often,)  and  imitated  some 
of  his  severities  upon  better  grounds.  How 
often  have  I  heard  him  to  admire  (among  many 
other  things)  especially  his  self-annihilation, 
striving  continually  to  be  nothing,  that  God 
might  be  all  ! 

But  here  he  stayetli  not  ;  he  was  a  second- 
table  man,  a  man  of  morals  :  I  never  knew  him 
spotted  in  the  least  degree  with  any  unjust  or 
uncharitable  act.  And  I  am  sure  the  many 
failings  of  professors  in  this  kind  touched  him 
to  the  very  quick,  and  brought  him  low,  drew 
prayers,  tears,  complaints,  and  lamentations, 
both  by  word  and  letter,  from  him  ;  though  the 
Lord  would  not  permit  him  to  behold  and  reap 
the  fruit  before  he  died. 

He  had  an  eminently  free  and  bountiful  heart 
according  to  his  power  ;  and  I  may  truly  say, 
beyond  his  power :  yea,  much  beyond  it,  he 
was  willing  of  himself.  It  is  but  seldom  that 
the  best  need  restraint  in  these  matters  ;  and 
yet  we  read  of  some  who   brought  more  than 


126  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

enough,  yea,  much  more  than  enough,  (Exod. 
xxxvi,  5,)  so  that  there  was  a  proclamation  is- 
sued, to  put  a  stop  upon  their  bounty  ;  and  it  is 
added  presently,  "  So  the  people  were  restrain- 
ed." Men  universally  almost  need  a  spur  ;  but 
he  did  rather  need  a  bridle.  When  other  men 
gave  little  out  of  much,  he  gave  much  out  of 
little  ;  and  while  they  heaped  and  gathered  up, 
he  dispersed  and  scattered  abroad.  He  did  not 
hide  himself  from  his  own  flesh,  but  was  help- 
ful to  his  relations,  as  some  of  them  have  great 
reason  to  acknov/ledge.  His  charity  began  at 
home,  but  it  did  not  end  there ;  for  he  did  good 
to  all,  (according  to  his  opportunities,)  though 
especially  to  the  household  of  faith.  He  con- 
sidered the  poor  ;  he  studied  their  condition  ; 
he  devised  liberal  things  ;  he  was  full  of  holy 
projects  for  the  advancement  of  the  good  of 
others,  both  spiritual  and  temporal  ;  which  he 
pursued  with  such  irresistible  vigour,  and  zeal, 
and  activity,  that  they  seldom  proved  abortive. 
He  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  condescen- 
sion to  the  infirmities  of  weaker  brethren;  as 
they  that  are  most  holy,  and  best  acquainted 
with  themselves,  are  wont  to  be:  "instructing 
those  that  were  contrary-minded  in  meekness  ; 
if  God  peradventure  would  give  them  repent- 
ance to  the  acknowledging  of  the  truth  :  restor- 
ing those  who  were  overtaken  with  a  fault,  in 
the  spirit  of  meekness  :"  so  dealing  with  them 
in  such  a  loving,  sweet,  and  humble  way,  as 
considering  himself,  lest  he  also  might  be 
tempted.     In  their  confessed  failings,  he  was 


LIFE    OF     JOSEPH     ALLEINE.  127 

no  way  supercilious,  captious,  and  censorious  ; 
he  would  maintain  a  j^ood  opinion  of  another, 
upon  a  narrower  footing  than  many  others,  who 
(to  say  no  more)  were  nothing  stricter,  holier, 
humbler,  than  himself  would  be.  His  charity 
believed  all  things  that  were  to  be  believed, 
and  hoped  all  things  that  were  to  be  hoped. 
And  when  he  deeply  condemned  the  action,  he 
would  not  judge  of  the  estate.  Indeed  he  had 
more  charity  for  others  than  himself ;  and 
though  he  was  sufficiently  mild  in  his  judgment 
of  others,  he  was  severe  enough  in  his  judgment 
of  himself. 

He  was  not  peremptory  in  matters  that  be- 
long to  doubtful  disputations.  He  laid  no  more 
weight  and  stress  on  notions  and  opinions  in 
religion,  that  wholly  depend  upon  topical  argu- 
ments, than  belongs  to  them.  He  was  not  like 
many,  who  are  so  over-confident  in  their  deter- 
minations that  they  will  hardly  hold  communion, 
nay,  scarcely  so  much  as  a  pleading  conversa- 
tion, with  any  man  (how  gracious  soever)  who 
cannot  think,  and  say,  and  act  in  every  thing  as 
they  do.  He  would  allow  his  fellow-members 
the  latitude  that  the  apostle  doth  ;  and  so  would 
freely  and  familiarly  converse  with  those  who 
are  sound  in  the  faith,  as  to  the  fundamentals 
of  religion,  and  who  were  strict  and  holy  in 
their  lives,  of  all  persuasions. 

His  ministerial  studies  were  more  than  usu- 
ally easy  to  him,  being  of  a  quick  conceit,  a 
ready,  strong,  and  faithful  memory,  a  free  ex- 
pression, (which  was  rather  nervous  and  sub- 


128  LIFE   OF   JOSEPH   ALLEINE. 

stantial  than  soft  and  delicate,)  and,  which  was 
best  of  all,  a  holy  heart  that  boiled  up  with 
good  matter.  This  furnished  him  on  all  occa- 
sions, not  with  warm  affections  only,  but  with 
holy  notions  too.  For  his  heart  v/as  an  epistle, 
written  not  with  ink,  but  with  the  Spirit  of  the 
living  God  :  and  out  of  this  epistle,  he  drew 
many  excellent  things.  In  the  course  of  his 
ministry  he  was  a  good  man,  and  in  his  heart 
a  good  treasure  ;  whence  he  was  wont  continu- 
ally to  bring  forth  good  things,  both  in  public 
and  private. 

He  was  apt  to  preach  and  pray  ;  most  read)'-  on 
all  occasions  to  lay  out  himself  upon  such  work; 
yea,  spending  himself  in  it.  When  my  sudden 
distemper  seizing  upon  me,  put  him  at  any  time 
(as  many  times  it  did)  upon  very  short  and  sudden 
preparations,  he  never  refused  ;  no,  nor  so  much 
as  fluctuated  in  the  undertaking.  But,  being 
called,  he  confidently  cast  himself  upon  the 
Lord,  and  trusted  perfectly  to  his  assistance, 
who  had  never  failed  him  ;  and  so  he  readily 
and  freely  went  about  his  work  without  distrac- 
tion. 

He  began  upon  a  very  considerable  stock  of 
learning,  and  gifts  ministerial  and  personal,  much 
beyond  the  proportion  of  his  years  ;  and  grew  ex- 
ceedingly in  his  abilities  and  graces,  in  a  little 
time  :  so  that  his  profiting  appeared  to  all  men. 
He  waxed  very  rich  in  heavenly  treasure,  by  the 
blessing  of  God  on  a  diligent  hand ;  so  that  he 
was  behind  in  no  good  gift.  He  found  that  pre- 
cious promise  sensibly  made  good :  "  To  liira 


LIFL    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  129 

that  hath"  (for  use  and  good  employment)  "  shall 
be  given,  and  he  shall  have  abundance."  He 
had  no  talent  for  the  napkin,  but  all  for  traffic  ; 
which  he  laid  out  so  freely  for  his  master's  use, 
(hat  in  a  little  time  they  multiplied  so  fast,  that 
the  napkin  could  not  hold  them.  I  heard  a 
worthy  minister  say  of  him  once,  (not  without 
nmcli  admiration,)  "  Whence  hath  this  man 
these  things  ?"  He  understood  whence  he 
had  them  well  enough,  and  so  did  I ;  even  from 
above,  whence  every  good  and  perfect  gift  pro- 
ceedeth.  God  blessed  him  in  all  spiritual 
blessings  in  heavenly  things  ;  and  he  returned 
all  to  heaven  again.  He  served  God  with  all 
his  might,  and  all  his  strength ;  he  was  abun- 
dant in  the  work  of  the  Lord  ;  he  did  not  go,  but 
run,  the  ways  of  his  commandments.  He  made 
haste  and  lingered  not ;  he  did  run,  and  was 
not  weary  ;  he  did  walk,  and  was  not  faint. 
He  pressed  hard  toward  the  mark,  till  he  attain- 
ed it.  His  race  was  short  and  swift,  and  his 
end  glorious. 

He  was  infinitely  and  insatiably  greedy  of  the 
conversion  of  souls,  wherein  he  had  no  small 
success  in  the  time  of  his  ministry.  To  this 
end,  he  poured  out  his  very  heart  in  prayer 
and  in  preaching.  He  imparted  not  the  gospel 
only,  but  his  own  soul.  His  supplications  and 
his  exhortations  many  times  were  so  affection- 
ate, so  full  of  holy  zeal,  life,  and  vigour,  that 
they  quite  overcame  his  hearers.  He  melted 
over  them,  so  that  he  thawed  and  mollified,  and 
sometimes  dissolved,  the  hardest  hearts.  But 
9 


130  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

while  he  melted  thus  he  wasted,   and  at  last 
consumed  himself. 

He  was  not  satisfied  to  spend  himself  in  pub- 
lic, but  used  constantly  to  go  from  house  to 
house,  and  there  to  deal,  particularly  where  he 
had  a  free  reception,  both  with  the  governors, 
the  children,  and  the  servants  of  the  household ; 
instructing  them  especially  in  the  great  funda- 
mental necessary  truths  of  the  law  and  of  the 
gospel,  where  he  observed  them  to  be  ignorant; 
gently  reproA^ng  them  where  he  found  any 
thing  amiss  among  them ;  exhorting  them  to 
diligence,  both  in  their  general  and  particular 
callings  ;  entreating  them  who  were  defective, 
by  any  means  to  set  up  the  worship  of  God  in 
their  houses,  and  to  make  them  little  churches, 
by  constant  reading  of  the  Scripture,  that  so  the 
word  of  Christ  might  dwell  among  and  in  them 
richly ;  by  careful  catechising  of  the  children 
and  the  servants,  if  the  governors  were  able  ; 
by  frequent  meditations,  conferences,  repetitions 
of  that  which  they  had  heard  in  public  ;  espe- 
cially by  daily  prayer,  morning  and  evening; 
that  so  they  might  avoid  that  dreadful  indigna- 
tion which  hangs  over,  and  is  ready  to  be  pour- 
ed out  upon,  the  families  that  call  not  upon  God. 
He  made  the  best  inspection  that  he  could  into 
the  state  of  every  particular  person,  and  so  ac- 
cordingly applied  himself  to  check,  to  comfort, 
to  encourage,  as  he  found  occasion.  All  which 
he  did  with  so  much  tenderness,  humility,  and 
self-denial,  that  they  gained  very  much  on  the 
affections  and  respects  of  all  that  received  him, 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  131 

and  wrought  them  at  least  to  outward  con- 
formity;  so  that  they  who  were  not  visited  in 
the  beginning,  at  length  came  forth,  and  called 
upon  him  to  come  to  their  families  and  help 
them. 

Thus  did  he  wear  himself  away,  and  gave 
light  and  heat  to  others.  He  usually  allowed 
himself  too  little  sleep  to  recruit  and  to  repair 
the  spirits  which  he  wasted  with  waking.  His 
manner  was  to  rise  at  four  o'clock  at  the  utmost, 
many  times  before,  and  that  on  cold  winter 
mornings,  that  he  might  be  with  God  betimes, 
and  so  get  room  for  other  studies  and  employ- 
ments. His  extraordinary  watchings,  constant 
cares,  excessive  labours  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  public  and  private,  were  generally  ap- 
prehended to  be  the  cause  of  those  distempers 
and  decays,  and  at  last  that  ill  habit  of  body, 
whereof  he  died. 

He  was  the  gravest,  strictest,  most  serious, 
and  composed  young  man  that  I  had  ever  yet 
the  happiness  to  be  acquainted  with  :  and  yet 
he  was  not  rigid  in  his  principles  ;  his  modera- 
tion was  known  to  all  men  that  knew  him. 


CHAPTER  V 


Wmf.n  he  catechised  the  greater  sort  in  pub- 
lic, before  he  was  silenced,  his  manner  was  to 
begin  with  prayer  for  a  blessing  upon  that 
exercise  :  and  having  proposed  some  questions 


132  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

out  of  the  Assembly's  Catechism  to  them,  he  was 
careful  not  only  to  make  them  perfect  in  rehears- 
ing the  answers  there  set  down,  but  also  to 
bring  them  to  a  clear  understanding  of  the 
meaning  of  the  said  answers,  and  of  all  the  terms 
and  phrases  in  which  they  are  expressed  ;  and 
to  draw  some  practical,  useful  inferences  from 
those  heads  of  divinity  contained  in  them. 
Moreover,  when  any  distinction  was  necessary 
for  the  clearing  up  of  the  matter  in  hand,  he 
would  be  also  instructing  his  catechumens 
therein.  Now  this  he  would  do  by  proposing 
several  other  collateral  questions,  besides  those 
in  the  catechism  ;  which  questions,  together 
with  the  answers  to  them,  himself  had  before 
drawn  up  and  sent  to  them  in  writing. 

In  the  evening  of  the  Lord's  day,  his  course 
was  to  repeat  his  sermon  again,  in  the  public 
place  of  worship,  w^here  abundance  of  people 
constantly  resorted  to  hear  him  ;  which  when 
he  had  done,  several  youths  were  called  forth, 
who  gave  him  an  account  of  the  heads  of  all  his 
sermon  by  memory. 

As  for  his  method  in  going  from  house  to 
house,  for  the  instructing  of  private  families,  it 
was  this  : — 

He  would  give  them  notice  of  his  coming 
the  day  before,  desiring  that  he  might  have 
admittance  to  their  houses,  to  converse  with 
them  about  their  soul-concerns,  and  that  they 
would  have  their  whole  family  together  against 
he  came.  When  he  came,  and  the  family  were 
called  together,  he  would  instruct  the  younger 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  133 

sort  in  the  principles  of  religion,  by  asking 
several  qnestions  in  the  catechism  ;  the  an- 
swers to  which  he  would  open  and  explain  to 
them.  Also  he  would  inquire  of  them  about 
their  spiritual  estate  and  condition,  labouring  to 
make  them  sensible  of  the  evil  and  danger  of 
sin,  the  corruption  and  wickedness  of  our  na- 
tures, the  misery  of  an  unconverted  state  ; 
stirring  them  up  to  look  after  the  true  remedy 
proposed  in  the  gospel,  to  turn  from  all  their 
sins  unto  God,  to  close  with  Christ  upon  his 
own  terms,  to  follow  after  holiness,  to  watch 
over  their  hearts  and  lives,  to  mortify  their 
lusts,  to  redeem  their  time,  to  prepare  for  eter- 
nity. These  things,  as  he  would  explain  to 
their  understandings,  that  they  might  have  clear 
apprehensions  about  them,  so  he  would  press 
tlie  practice  of  them  upon  their  consciences, 
with  the  most  cogent  arguments  and  considera- 
tions, minding  them  of  the  great  privileges  they 
enjoyed,  the  many  gospel  sermons  that  they  did 
or  might  hear,  the  many  talents  they  were  in- 
trusted withal,  and  the  great  account  they  had 
to  give  to  the  God  of  heaven  :  telling  them  how 
sad  it  would  be  with  them  another  day,  if  after 
all  this  they  should  come  short  of  salvation. 
Besides,  he  would  leave  with  them  several 
counsels  and  directions  to  be  carefully  remem- 
bered and  practised  for  the  good  of  their  souls. 
Those  that  were  serious  and  religious,  he  would 
labour  to  help  forward  in  holiness,  by  answer- 
ing their  doubts,  resolving  their  cases,  encou- 
raging them  under  their  dilllculties.    And  before 


134  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

he  went  from  any  family,  lie  would  deal  with 
the  heads  of  that  family,  and  such  others  as 
were  grown  to  years  of  discretion,  singly  and 
apart ;  that  so  he  might  (as  much  as  possibly 
he  could)  come  to  know  the  condition  of  each 
particular  person  in  his  flock,  and  address 
himself  in  his  discourse  as  might  be  suitable  to 
every  one  of  them.  If  he  perceived  that  they 
lived  in  the  neglect  of  family  duties,  he  would 
exhort  and  press  them  to  set  up  the  worship  of 
God  in  their  families,  as  reading,  prayer,  and 
directing  them  how  to  set  about  it,  and  to  take 
time  for  secret  duties  too.  Such  as  were  mas- 
ters of  families,  he  would  earnestly  persuade 
and  desire,  as  they  did  tender  the  honour  of 
Christ  and  the  welfare  of  their  children's  and 
servants'  souls,  to  let  them  have  some  time 
every  day  for  such  private  duties,  and  to  en- 
courage them  in  the  performance  of  them  ;  nei- 
ther would  he  leave  them  before  he  had  a  pro- 
mise of  them  so  to  do.  Sometimes  also  he 
would  himself  go  to  prayer  before  his  departure. 
This  was  his  method  in  the  general ;  although 
with  such  necessary  variation  in  his  particular 
visits,  as  the  various  state  and  condition  of  the 
several  families  required.  If  the  family  where 
he  came  were  ignorant,  he  would  insist  the 
longer  instructing  and  catechising  ;  if  loose,  in 
reproving  and  convincing ;  if  godly,  in  encou- 
raging and  directing. 

He  used  to  spend  five  afternoons  every  week 
in  such  exercises,  from  one  or  two  of  the  clock, 
until  seven  in  the  evening :  in  which  space  of 


LIFE    or   JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  135 

time  he  would  visit  sometimes  three  or  four 
families  in  an  afternoon,  and  sometimes  more, 
accordinor  as  they  were  greater  or  less.  This 
course  he  would  take  throughout  the  town  ;  and 
when  he  had  gone  through  he  would  presently 
begin  again,  that  he  might  visit  every  family  as 
often  as  he  could.  He  often  blessed  God  for  the 
great  success  that  he  had  in  these  exercises, 
saying  that  God  had  made  him  as  instrumental 
of  good  to  souls  in  this  way  as  by  his  public 
preaching,  if  not  more.  When  the  ministers  of 
this  county  of  Somerset,  at  one  of  their  associa- 
tions which  heretofore  they  held,  were  debating 
whether  and  how  far  it  was  incumbent  upon 
them  to  set  up  private  family  instruction  in  their 
|)articular  charges,  Mr.  AUeine  was  the  man 
iliat  they  pitched  upon  to  draw  up  his  reasons 
for  that  practice,  together  with  a  method  for  the 
more  profitable  management  of  it. 

AN   ABRIDGMKNT    OF  WHAT    HE  DREW    UP. 

It  being  the  unquestionable  duty  of  all  the 
ministers  of  the  church  of  Christ  "  to  take  heed 
to  all  the  flock  over  whom  the  Holy  Ghost  hath 
made  them  overseers;"  and  to  teach  and  preach, 
not  only  publicly,  but  from  house  to  house  ;  not 
only  taking  a  general  care  of  the  whole,  or  calling 
out  the  chiefest  of  the  sheep  for  our  particular 
care  and  inspection,  as  the  manner  of  some  is, 
and  leaving  the  rest  to  sink  or  swim  ;  but  as 
good  shepherds  in  inquiring  into  their  estates, 
observing  the  particular  marks,  diseases,  stray- 
ings  of  our  sheep,  aiid  applying  ourselves  suita- 


136  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

bly  to  their  cases  ;  in  a  word,  warning  every 
man,  that  we  may  present  every  man  perfect  in 
Christ  Jesus  :  therefore  it  behooveth  us  to  study 
to  do  this  great  duty  in  such  a  manner  as  may 
be  acceptable  to  God,  and  profitable  to  our 
flocks.  The  directions  for  performing  this  duty 
are  either  more  general,  or  more  special ;  for 
the  more  general  directions,  they  are  either 
such  as  concern  the  entrance  on  this  duty,  or 
the  performance  of  it.  For  those  that  concern 
the  entrance  : — 

I.  It  will  be  necessary,  that  we  convince  the 
people  of  the  necessity  of  this  duty. 

II.  That  we  study  to  manage  this  great  work 
to  our  people's  best  advantage. 

III.  That  we  set  apart  such  set  times  for  this 
great  work  as,  upon  consideration,  we  shall  find 
most  convenient  for  them  and  us,  resolving  to 
be  constant  in  observing  them. 

IV.  That  we  pray  for  wisdom  from  above, 
what  and  how  to  speak. 

V.  That  we  send  word  to  the  people  when 
we  intend  to  visit  them,  that  they  may  dispose 
of  their  business  to  receive  us. 

For  those  that  concern  us  in  the  managing 
of  the  duty  :  — 

I.  The  family  being  called  together,  we  may, 
if  time  and  conveniency  permit,  begin  with 
prayer. 

II.  The  family  consisting  of  superiors  and 
inferiors,  it  would  not  be  amiss  to  begin  with 
the  inferiors  ;  for  many  can  hear  their  children 
and  servants  examined  contentedly,  that  cannot 


LIFE    OF    JOSi;PiI    ALLEINE,  137 

bear  it  themselves  :  for  that  they  will  not  dis- 
dain to  give  an  account  of  themselves  before 
their  superiors,  though  their  superiors  would 
disdain  to  give  account  before  them  :  and  here 
it  will  be  necessary  to  inquire  into  their  know- 
ledge, practice,  states. 

1.  Their  knowledge.  Here,  (1.)  We  may 
examine  what  progress  they  have  made  in  the 
principles  of  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  and  try  them 
in  the  catechism. 

(2.)  What  they  gain  by  the  public  ministry, 
what  they  remember  of  the  sermon  last  heard. 

2.  Into  their  practice. 

(1.)  In  their  duty  toward  God  ;  where  it  may 
be  useful  to  inquire  if  they  make  conscience  of 
secret  prayer.  The  necessity  of  it  may  be  ex- 
pressed, the  nature  of  it  opened,  and  some  heads 
of  prayer  explained  ;  and  if  they  be  such  as 
need  it,  it  would  be  useful  to  commend  to  them 
some  form,  for  the  present  help. 

(2.)  In  the  duties  of  their  relation  toward  men, 
and  if  they  be  pressed  to  faithfulness,  diligence, 
and  uprightness,  the  duties  they  owe  to  those 
that  were  over  them,  it  would  be  very  conve- 
nient. 

3.  Into  their  states.  And  here  we  may  take 
an  account  of  them,  what  they  think  of  the  state 
of  their  souls,  showing  the  paucity  of  them  that 
are  saved,  the  desperate  deceitfulncss  of  the 
heart,  the  infinite  danger  of  being  deceived, 
the  wiles  and  devices  of  Satan  to  beguile  them  ; 
from  whence,  and  such  like  arguments,  we 
may  press  them  to  be  diligent  in  inquiring  what 


138  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

the  case  of  their  souls  is,  to  be  jealous  of  them- 
selves :  where  we  may  take  occasion  to  show 
them — 

(1.)  That  every  man  by  nature  is  in  a  dam- 
nable estate. 

(2.)  The  absolute  necessity  of  conversion. 

(3.)  By  what  signs  they  may  know  whether 
they  remain  in,  or  are  delivered  from,  this  es- 
tate :  which  signs  should  be  few,  plain,  certain, 
and  infallible,  founded  upon  the  clear  evidence 
of  the  w-ord  :  and  because  the  searching  work 
is  so  displeasing  to  the  flesh,  that  it  might  dis- 
engage them  to  come  too  close  at  first,  it  may 
not  be  amiss  to  defer  this,  till  we  had  got  some 
interest  in  their  hearts,  by  a  loving,  tender  con- 
duct. 

III.  The  inferiors  being  thus  dealt  with,  may 
be  dismissed  to  their  several  employments  ;  and 
then  we  may  take  occasion  to  discourse  with 
the  heads  of  the  families,  proceeding  as  pru- 
dence shall  direct  upon  some  of  the  foremen- 
tioned  particulars. 

1.  We  may  inquire  whether  they  perform 
this  great  duty  of  prayer  in  the  family ;  offering 
them  helps  if  they  need. 

2.  We  may  press  them  to  instruct  and  cate- 
chise their  families. 

3.  We  may  exhort  them  to  the  strict  sancti- 
fying of  the  Lord's  day. 

4.  If  they  are  poor,  we  may  draw  forth  the 
hand  of  our  bounty  toward  them. 

5.  If  we  know  any  evil  by  them,  we  may 
take  them  aside  privately,  showing  them  the  sin- 


LIFE    OF    JOSKPH    ALLEIXE.  139 

fulness  of  their  practice,  and  engaging  them  to 
promise  reformation, 

6.  We  should  leave  with  them  some  few  par- 
ticulars of  greatest  weight,  often  repeating  them 
till  they  remember  them ;  engaging  them  to  mind 
them  till  we  shall  converse  with  them  again. 

7.  Our  dealing  with  them  must  be  in  that 
manner  that  may  most  prevail  and  win  upon 
their  hearts. 

(1.)  With  compassion;  being  kindly  affec- 
tioned  to  them  ;  charging,  exhorting,  comfort- 
ing every  one  of  them,  as  a  father  his  children. 

(2.)  With  prudence  ;  warning  and  teaching 
them  in  all  wisdom,  applying  ourselves  to  the 
several  cases  and  capacities. 

(i.)  To  the  rich  in  this  world,  showing  more 
respect  as  their  places  require,  charging  upon 
them  those  duties  that  are  required  of  ihem  in 
special. 

(ii.)  To  the  poor  you  may  be  more  plain  and 
free,  pressing  upon  them  those  duties  that  are 
most  proper  to  their  condition. 

(iii.)  To  the  aged  we  must  be  more  reverent, 
labouring  to  root  out  of  them  the  love  of  the 
world,  sliowing  them  the  dangerousness  of  co- 
vetousness,  and  the  necessity  of  making  speedy 
preparation  for  eternity. 

(iv.)  The  men  are  to  be  exhorted  to  tempe- 
rance and  sobriety,  diligence  in  their  call- 
ings, &c. 

(v.)  Women  to  nieekness,  humility,  subjec- 
tion to  their  husbands,  and  constant  infusing 
good  principles  into  their  children. 


140  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

(3.)  With  patience  ;  being  gentle  to  all  men  , 
in  meekness  instructing  those  that  oppose  them- 
selves ;  bearing  with  their  dulness,  rudeness,  and 
disrespectfulness  ;  waiting  for  their  repentance. 

(4.)  With  all  faithfulness  ;  giving  no  occa- 
sion of  offence,  that  our  ministry  be  not  blamed. 

(5.)  With  zeal ;  as  Apollos  fervent  in  spirit, 
teaching  diligently  the  things  of  the  Lord. 

(6.)  With  plainness  ;  not  betraying  their  souls 
to  hell,  and  ours  with  them,  for  want  of  faith- 
fulness and  closeness  in  our  dealing  with  them  ; 
it  being  not  sufficient  in  general  that  no  drunk- 
ard, Slc,  shall  inherit  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ; 
but  telling  them  plainly,  and  particularly,  Such 
is  your  looseness,  your  ignorance,  that  I  fear 
you  are  in  an  unconverted  state. 

(7.)  With  authority  ;  dealing  with  them  in 
the  power  and  demonstration  of  the  Spirit. 

(8.)  With  humility  ;  not  lording  it  over  God's 
heritage,  but  condescending  to  men  of  low  es- 
tate ;  nor  disdaining  to  go  into  the  houses  of 
the  meanest. 

The  sort  of  directions  are  more  special,  re- 
specting the  several  sorts  of  our  people,  who 
may  be  ranked  into  four  heads  ;  the  ignorant, 
profane,  formal,  godly. 

First,  for  the  ignorant.  Our  work  with  them 
will  be, — 

1.  To  convince  them  that  they  are  ignorant, 
which  may  be  done  by  showing  their  inability 
to  answer  some  plain  familiar  questions. 

2.  To  show  them  the  dangerous,  yea,  the 
damnable,  nature  of  ignorance. 


LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  141 

3.  To  press  them,  with  all  possible  earnest- 
ness, to  labour  after  knowledge. 

4.  To  answer  their  carnal  pleas  for  their 
ignorance,  when  wilful. 

Secondly,  for  the  profane.  It  would  be  ne- 
cessary to  deal  with  them  convincingly,  showing 
the  certain  damnation  they  are  running  upon. 

Thirdly,  for  the  formal.  With  these  we  must 
deal  searchingly,  and  show  them, — 

1 .  How  easily  men  may  mistake  the  form  of 
godliness  for  the  power. 

2.  The  danger  of  resting  in  being  almost  a 
Christian. 

3.  The  most  distinguishing  differences  be- 
tween a  hypocrite  and  a  sincere  Christian. 

Fourthly,  for  the  godly.  To  these  we  must 
draw  forth  the  breasts  of  the  promises,  opening 
to  them  the  riches  and  fulness  of  Christ,  in- 
quiring into  their  growth  in  grace,  quickening 
them  to  be  steadfast  in  the  faith,  patient  in 
suffering,  diligent  in  doing  the  will  of  Christ, 
zealous  of  good  works,  always  abounding  more 
and  more. 

There  is  one  thing  more,  in  which  his  self- 
denial,  and  other  graces,  were  very  exemplary; 
namely,  his  faithfulness  in  reproving  the  mis- 
carriages of  professors,  sparing  none,  whether 
high  or  low,  whether  ministers  or  private  Chris- 
tians ;  yea,  although  they  had  been  never  so 
dear  in  his  affections,  and  never  so  obliging  in 
their  carriage  to  him,  yet  if  he  found  in  them 
anything  that  was  reprovable  and  blameworthy, 


142  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH   ALLEINE. 

he  would  deal  with  them  faithfully  and  plainly 
about  it,  whatsoever  the  issue  and  event  were. 

One  time  when  he  was  going  about  such  a 
work,  he  said  to  a  Christian  friend,  with  whom 
he  was  very  intimate  and  familiar,  "  Well,  I  am 
going  about  that  which  is  likely  to  make  a  very 
dear  and  obliging  friend  to  become  an  enemy. 
But,  however,  it  cannot  be  omitted ;  it  is  better 
to  lose  man's  favour  than  God's."  But  God 
was  pleased  (then,  as  well  as  divers  other 
times,  when  he  went  about  business  of  this 
nature)  to  order  things  for  him  better  than  he 
could  have  expected,  and  so  to  dispose  of  the 
heart  of  the  person  with  whom  he  had  to  deal, 
that  he  was  so  far  from  becoming  his  enemy 
for  his  conscientious  faithfulness  to  him,  that 
he  loved  him  the  better  ever  after  as  long  as  he 
lived. 

As  to  his  judgment  about  the  Arminian  con- 
troversies, as  far  as  I  can  perceive,  who  have 
discoursed  with  him  about  them,  it  was  much- 
what  the  same  with  Doctor  Davenant's  and 
Mr.  Baxter's. 

He  was  a  man  of  a  very  calm  and  peaceable 
spirit,  one  that  loathed  all  tumultuous  carriages 
and  proceedings  ;  he  was  far  from  having  any 
other  design  in  his  preaching  than  the  advance- 
ment of  the  kingdom  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  by  the 
conversion  and  salvation  of  souls.  This  was  the 
mark  that  he  had  in  his  eye  ;  this  was  that  for 
which  he  laboured,  and  ventured,  and  suffered, 
and  for  which  he  thought  he  could  never  lay  out 
himself  enough. 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH   ALLEINE.  143 

Though  he  were  but  a  young  juan,  yet  in  his 
carriage  he  was  exceedingly  serious  and  grave, 
and  withal  very  humble,  couricous,  and  aMible, 
condescending  to  discourse  with  the  poorest 
and  meanest  persons,  for  their  spiritual  good,  as 
soon  as  with  the  greatest  and  richest. 

And  indeed  so  unblamable  and  convincing 
was  he  in  the  whole  of  his  conversation,  that 
there  were  very  few  religious  and  sober  persons 
that  knew  him,  either  in  town  or  country,  either 
ministers  or  people,  (yea,  though  some  of  them 
ditiering  in  judgment  from  him,)  but  did  highly 
approve  of  him.  And  for  his  brethren  in  the 
ministry  in  these  parts,  such  was  his  holy  and 
discreet  deportment  among  them,  that  he  had 
as  great  an  influence  upon  them  as  few  others 
had. 

He  was  full  of  holy  projects,  often  bethinking 
himself  by  what  ways  and  means  he  might  more 
eflTectually  promote  the  honour  of  Christ,  and  the 
benefit  of  souls  ;  and  whatsoever  he  apprehend- 
ed to  be  conducing  to  these  highest  ends,  he 
would  prosecute  with  that  wisdom  and  vigour, 
that  he  seldom  failed  of  bringing  it  to  a  com- 
fortable and  successful  issue. 

Of  his  projects,  one  I  shall  here  insert; 
Having  considered  how  much  the  conscien- 
tious and  frequent  performance  of  the  duty  of 
self-examination  might  tend  to  the  bringing 
down  of  sin,  and  furtherance  of  holiness,  both 
in  heart  and  life,  he  did  earnestly  press  the 
duty  on  his  hearers  in  his  preaching,  directing 
them  in  the  performance  ;  and  not  only  so,  but 


144  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH   ALLEINE. 

dealt  with  them  also  in  private  about  it,  and  got 
a  promise  from  the  most  of  them,  that  they  would 
every  night,  before  they  took  their  rest,  set  about 
this  duty;  and  spend  some  time  in  secret,  on 
purpose  to  call  themselves  to  an  account,  how 
they  had  acted  that  day,  by  proposing  several 
questions  to  their  own  hearts  ;  which  questions 
he  had  referred  to  several  heads,  and  drawn  up 
for  them  in  writing. 

And  not  a  few  of  them  have  acknowledged, 
that  they  have  cause  to  bless  God,  who  stirred 
him  up  to  put  them  upon  this  practice,  which 
they  have  found  very  helpful  to  them  in  their 
daily  Christian  walk. 

USEFUL    QUESTIONS,    WHEREBY   A   CHRISTIAN    MAY 
EVERY   DAY    EXAMINE    HIMSELF. 

"  Commune  with  your  hearts  upon  your  beds,"  Psalm  iv,  4. 

Every  evening  before  you  sleep  (unless  you 
find  some  other  time  in  the  day  more  for  your 
advantage  in  this  work)  sequester  yourself  from 
the  world ;  and  having  set  your  heart  in  the 
presence  of  the  Lord,  charge  it  before  God  to 
answer  to  these  interrogatories. 

FOR  YOUR   DUTIES. 

Q.  1.  Did  not  God  find  me  on  my  bed,  when 
he  looked  for  me  on  my  knees?  Job  i,  5 ;  Psalm 
V,  3. 

Q.  2.  Have  not  I  prayed  to  no  purpose,  or 
suflfered  wandering  thoughts  to  eat  out  my  du- 
ties ?  Matt.  XV,  8,  9  ;  Jer.  xii,  2. 

Q.  3.   Have  not  I  neglected,  or  been  very 


LIFE    OF    JOSKI'II    ALLEINE.  145 

careless  in,  the  reading  God's  holy  word?  Deut. 
xvii,  19;  Josh,  i,  7,  8. 

Q.  4.  Have  I  digested  the  sermon  I  heard 
last  ?  Have  I  repeated  it  over  ?  and  prayed  it 
over  ?  Luke  ii,  19,  51 ;  Psalm  i,  2  ;  cxix,  5,  11, 
97. 

Q.  5.  Was  there  not  more  of  custom  and 
fashion  in  my  family  duties,  than  of  conscience? 
Psalm  ci,  2 ;  Jer.  xxx,  21 . 

Q.  6.  Wherein  have  I  denied  myself  this  day 
for  God  ?  Luke  ix,  23. 

Q.  7.  Have  I  redeemed  my  time  from  too  long 
or  needless  visits,  idle  imaginations,  fruitless 
discourse,  unnecessary  sleep,  more  than  needs 
of  the  world  ?   Ephes.  v,  16;  Col.  iv,  5. 

Q.  8.  Have  I  done  any  thing  more  than  ordi- 
nary for  the  church  of  God,  in  this  time  extra- 
ordinary? 2  Cor.  xi,  28;  Isa.  Ixii,  6. 

Q.  9.  Have  I  taken  care  of  my  company? 
Prov.  xiii,  20;  Psalm  cxix,  63. 

Q.  10.  Have  not  I  neglected,  or  done  some- 
thing against,  the  duties  of  my  relations  as  a 
master,  servant,  husband,  wife,  parent,  cliild, 
&c.  ?  Ephes.  y,  22 ;  vi,  9  ;  Col.  iii,  18 ;  iv,  2. 

FOR  YOUR  SINS. 

Q.  1.  Doth  not  sin  sit  light?  Psalm  xxxviii, 
4  ;  Rom.  vii,  24. 

Q.  2.  Am  I  a  mourner  for  the  sins  of  the 
land  ?  Ezek.  ix,  4  ;  Jer.  ix,  1-3. 

Q.  3.   Do  I  live  in  nothing  that  I  know  or  fear 
to  be  a  sin?  Psalm  cxix,  101,  104. 
10 


146  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH   ALLEINE. 

FOR  YOUR  HEART. 

Q.  1.  Have  I  been  much  in  holy  ejaculations? 
Neh.  ii,  4,  5. 

Q.  2.  Hath  not  God  been  out  of  mind?  heaven 
out  of  sight  ?  Psalm  xvi,  8  ;  Jer.  ii,  32  ;  Phil, 
iii,  20. 

Q.  3.  Have  I  been  often  looking  into  mine 
own  heart,  and  made  conscience  of  vain 
thoughts?  Prov.  iv,  23;  Psa.  cxix,  113. 

Q.  4.  Have  not  I  given  way  to  the  workings 
of  pride  or  passion  ?  2  Chron.  xxx,  26  ;  James 
iv,  5-7. 

FOR    MY    TONGUE. 

Q.  1.  Hare  I  bridled  my  tongue,  and  forced 
it  in  ?  James  i,  26  ;  iii,  2-4  ;  Psa.  xxxix,  1. 

Q.  2.  Have  I  spoken  evil  of  no  man  ?  Titus 
iii,  2  ;  James  iv,  11. 

Q.  3.  Hath  the  law  of  the  Lord  been  in  my 
mouth  as  I  sat  in  my  house,  went  by  the  Avay, 
was  lying  down,  and  rising  up  ?  Deut.  vi,  6,  7. 

Q.  4.  Have  I  come  into  no  company  where 
I  have  not  dropped  something  of  God,  and 
left  some  good  savour  behind  ?  Col.  iv,  6 ; 
Eph.  iv,  29. 

FOR    YOUR    TABLE. 

Q.  1.  Did  not  I  sit  down  with  a  higher  end 
than  a  beast,  merely  to  please  my  appetite  ? 
Did  I  eat,  drink,  for  the  glory  of  God  ?  1  Cor. 
X,  31. 

Q.  2.  Was  not  mine  appetite  too  hard  for  me  ? 
Jude  12:2  Peter  i,  6. 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIN'E.  147 

Q.  3.  Did  not  I  arise  from  the  table  without 
dropping  any  thing  of  God  there  ?  Luke  vii,  36, 
Slc.  ;  xiv,  1,  &,c. ;  John  vi. 

Q,  4.  Did  not  I  mock  with  God  when  I  pre- 
tended to  crave  a  blessing,  and  return  thanks  ? 
Acts  xxvii,  35,  36  ;  Matt,  xv,  36  ;  Col.  iii,  17,  23. 

FOR    YOUR    CALLING. 

Q.  1.  Have  I  been  diligent  in  the  duties  of 
my  calling  ?   Eccles.  ix  ;   1  Cor.  vii,  17,  20,  24. 

Q.  2.  Have  I  defrauded  no  man  ?  1  Thess. 
iv,  6  ;   1  Cor.  vi,  8. 

Q.  3.  Have  I  dropped  never  a  lie  in  my  shop 
or  trade  ?   Prov.  xxi,  6  ;  Eph.  iv,  25. 

Q.  4.  Did  not  I  rashly  make,  nor  falsely  break, 
some  promise  ?  Psa.  cvi,  33  ;  Josh,  ix,  14,  &c. ; 
Psa,  XV,  4. 

SOME    BRIEF    DIRECTIONS    FOR    THE   MORNING. 

Direct.  1.  If  through  necessity  or  careless- 
ness you  have  omitted  the  reading  and  weigh- 
ing of  these  questions  in  the  evening,  be  sure 
to  do  it  now. 

D.  2.  Ask  yourself,  What  sin  have  I  com- 
mitted ?  What  duty  have  I  omitted  ?  Against 
which  of  these  rules  have  I  offended,  in  the 
day  foregoing?  and  renew  your  repentance, 
and  double  your  watch. 

D.  3.  Examine  whether  God  were  last  in 
your  thoughts  when  you  went  to  sleep,  and  first 
when  you  awoke. 

D.  4.  Inquire  whether  your  care  for  your 
heart  and  ways  doth  increase  upon  your  constant 


148  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

using  of  this  course  for  self-examination,  or 
whether  it  doth  abate,  and  you  grow  more 
remiss. 

D.  5.  Impose  a  task  of  some  good  medita- 
tions upon  yourselves,  while  you  are  making 
ready  either  to  go  over  these  rules  in  your 
thoughts,  or  the  heads  of  some  sermon  you 
heard  last,  or  the  holy  meditations  for  this  pur- 
pose in  "  The  Practice  of  Piety,"  or  Sender's 
"  Daily  Walk." 

D.  6.  Set  your  ends  right  for  all  that  day. 

D.  7.  Set  your  watch  especially  against 
those  sins  and  temptations  that  you  are  likely 
to  be  most  incident  to  that  day. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

BY    HIS    WIDOW,    MRS.   THEODOSIA  ALLEINE. 

Before  the  Act  for  Uniformity  came  forth, 
my  husband  was  very  earnest  day  and  night 
with  God,  that  his  way  might  be  made  plain  to 
him,  that  he  might  not  desist  from  such  advan- 
tages of  saving  souls,  with  any  scruple  upon  his 
spirit ;  in  which,  when  he  saw  those  clauses  -of 
assent  and  consent,  and  renouncing  the  cove- 
nant, he  was  fully  satisfied.  But  he  seemed 
so  moderate  before,  that  both  myself  and  others 
thought  he  would  have  conformed  ;  he  often 
saying,  that  he  would  not  leave  his  work  for 
small  and  dubious  matters.  But  seeing  his  way 
so  plain  for  quitting  the  public  station  that  he 


LIFE    or    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  149 

held,  and  being  thoroughly  persuaded  of  this, 
that  the  ejection  of  the  ministers  out  of  their 
places  did  not  disoblige  them  from  preaching 
the  gospel,  he  presently  took  up  a  firm  resolu- 
tion to  go  on  with  his  work  in  private,  both  of 
preaching  and  visiting  from  house  to  house,  till 
he  should  be  carried  to  prison  or  banishment, 
which  he  counted  upon,  the  Lord  assisting  him. 
And  this  resolution,  without  delay,  he  prose- 
cuted ;  for  the  Thursday  after  he  appointed  a 
solemn  day  of  humiliation,  when  he  preached  to 
as  many  as  would  adventure  themselves  with 
Jiim  at  our  own  house.  But  it  being  then  a 
•strange  thing  to  the  most  professors  to  suffer, 
they  seemed  much  affrighted  at  the  threatenings 
of  adversaries  ;  so  that  there  was  not  such  an 
appearance  at  such  opportunities  as  my  husband 
expected  :  whereupon  he  made  it  his  work  to 
converse  much  with  those  he  perceived  to  be 
most  timorous,  and  to  satisfy  the  scruples  that 
were  on  many  among  us  ;  so  that  the  Lord  was 
pleased  in  a  short  time  to  give  him  such  success 
that  his  own  people  waxed  bold  for  the  Lord 
and  his  gospel  ;  and  multitudes  flocked  into  the 
meetings,  at  whatsoever  season  they  were, 
either  by  day  or  night ;  which  was  a  great  en- 
couragement to  my  husband,  that  he  went  on 
with  much  vigour  and  affection  in  his  work, 
both  of  preaching,  and  visiting  and  catechising 
from  house  to  house. 

He  went  also  frequently  into  the  villages  and 
places  about  the  towns  where  their  ministers 
were  gone,  as  most  of  them  did  fly,  or  at  the 


150  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINlD. 

least  desist  for  a  considerable  time  after  Bar- 
tholomew day.  Wherever  he  went,  the  Lord 
was  pleased  to  give  him  great  success  ;  many- 
were  converted  ;  and  the  generality  of  those 
were  animated  to  cleave  to  the  Lord  and  his 
ways. 

By  this  the  justices'  rage  was  much  height- 
ened against  him,  and  he  was  often  threatened 
and  sought  for  ;  but  by  the  power  of  God,  whose 
work  he  was  delighted  in,  he  was  preserved 
much  longer  out  of  their  hands  than  he  expected ; 
for  he  would  often  say,  that  if  it  pleased  the  Lord 
to  grant  him  three  months'  liberty  before  he  went 
to  prison,  he  should  account  himself  favoured 
by  him,  and  should  with  more  cheerfulness  go, 
when  he  had  done  some  work  ;  at  which  time 
we  sold  off  all  our  goods,  preparing  for  a  jail, 
or  banishment,  where  he  was  desirous  I  should 
attend  him,  as  I  was  willing  to  do,  it  always 
having  been  more  grievous  to  me  to  think  of 
being  absent  from  him  than  to  suffer  with  him. 

He  also  resolved,  when  they  would  suffer 
him  no  longer  to  stay  in  England,  he  would  go 
to  China,  or  some  remote  part  of  the  world, 
and  publish  the  gospel  there. 

It  pleased  the  Lord  to  indulge  him,  that  he 
went  on  in  his  work  from  Bartholomew  day 
till  May  26th  after.  Though  often  threatened, 
yet  he  was  never  interrupted,  though  the  peo- 
ple both  of  the  town  and  country  were  grown 
so  resolute  that  they  came  in  great  multitudes, 
at  whatever  season  the  meeting  was  appointed, 
very  seldom  missing  twice  a  Sabbath,  and  often 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  151 

in  the  week.  I  know  that  he  hath  preached 
Iburteen  times  in  cin^ht  days,  and  ten  often,  and 
six  or  seven  ordinarily  in  these  months,  at  home 
and  abroad,  besides  his  trequent  converse  with 
souls  ;  he  then  laying  aside  all  other  studies 
which  he  formerly  so  much  delighted  in,  because 
he  accounted  his  time  would  be  but  short.  And 
the  Lord  (as  he  often  told  me)  made  his  work 
in  his  ministry  far  more  easy  to  him,  by  the 
supplies  of  his  Spirit,  both  in  gifts  and  grace, 
as  did  evidently  appear  both  in  his  doctrine  and 
life  ;  he  appearing  to  be  more  spiritual,  and  hea- 
venly, and  afleclionate  than  before,  to  all  that 
heard  him,  or  conversed  with  him. 

He  was,  upon  a  Saturday  evening,  about  six 
o'clock,  seized  on  by  an  officer  of  our  town, 
who  had  rather  been  otherwise  employed,  as 
he  hath  often  said  ;  but  that  he  was  forced  to  a 
speedy  execution  of  the  warrant,  by  a  justice's 
clerk,  who  was  sent  on  purpose  with  it  to  see 
it  executed,  because  he  feared  that  none  of  the 
town  would  have  done  it. 

The  warrant  was  in  the  name  of  three  jus- 
tices, to  summon  him  to  appear  forthw  ith  at  one 
of  their  houses,  which  was  about  two  miles  from 
the  town  ;  but  he  desired  liberty  to  stay  and  sup 
with  his  family  first,  supposing  his  entertain- 
ment there  would  be  such  as  would  require 
some  refreshment.  This  would  not  be  granted, 
till  one  of  the  chief  of  the  town  was  bound  for 
his  speedy  appearance.  His  supper  being  pre- 
pared, he  sat  down,  eating  very  heartily,  and 
was  very  cheerful,  but  full  of  holy  and  gracious 


152  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

expressions,  suitable  to  his  and  our  present  state. 
After  supper,  having  prayed  with  us,  he  with 
the  officer,  and  two  or  three  friends  accompa- 
nying him,  repaired  to  the  justice's  house,  where 
they  lay  to  his  charge,  that  he  had  broken  the 
Act  of  Uniformity  by  his  preaching  ;  which  he 
denied,  saying,  that  he  had  preached  neither  in 
any  church,  nor  chapel,  nor  place  of  public 
worship,  since  the  24th  of  August ;  and  what 
he  did  was  in  his  own  family,  with  those  others 
that  came  there  to  hear  him. 

Here,  as  elsewhere,  he  was  a  careful  re- 
deemer of  his  time  ;  his  constant  practice  was, 
early  to  begin  the  day  with  God,  rising  about 
four  o'clock,  and  spending  a  considerable  part 
of  the  morning  in  meditation  and  prayer,  and 
then  falling  close  to  his  study,  in  some  corner 
or  other  of  the  prison,  where  he  could  be  private. 
At  times,  he  would  spend  nearly  the  whole  night 
in  these  exercises,  not  putting  off  his  clothes  at 
all,  only  taking  the  repose  of  an  hour  or  two  in 
his  night-gown  upon  the  bed,  and  so  rising  up 
again.  When  any  came  to  visit  him,  he  did  not 
entertain  them  with  needless,  impertinent  dis- 
course, but  that  which  was  serious,  profitable, 
and  edifying;  in  which  he  was  careful  to  apply 
himself  to  them,  according  to  their  several  capa- 
cities, whether  elder  or  younger ;  exhorting  them 
to  those  gracious  practices  which,  by  reason  of 
their  age  or  temper,  calling  or  condition,  he  ap- 
prehended they  might  be  most  defective  in,  and 
dehorting  them  from  those  evils  they  might  be 
most  prone  and  liable  unto.     He  rejoiced  that 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  153 

he  was  accounted  worthy  to  suffer  for  the  work 
of  Christ;  and  he  would  labour  to  encourage 
the  timorous  and  faint-hearted,  by  his  own  and 
others'  experience  of  the  mercy  and  goodness 
of  God  in  prison,  which  was  far  beyond  what 
they  could  have  thought  or  expected.  He  was 
a  careful  observer  of  that  rule  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
Matt.  V,  44  :  "  Love  your  enemies;  bless  them 
that  curse  you ;  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you; 
and  pray  for  them  that  despitefuUy  use  you  and 
persecute  you."  It  was  none  of  his  practice  to 
exclaim  against  those  that  were  the  greatest  in- 
struments of  his  sufferings. 

In  all  his  imprisonment,  at  present,  I  could  not 
discern  his  health  to  be  the  least  impaired,  not- 
withstanding his  abundant  labours;  yet  cannot 
but  suspect,  as  the  physicians  judged,  that  he 
had  laid  the  foundation  ibr  that  weakness  which 
suddenly  after  surprised  him,  and  was  his  death. 

At  his  return  from  the  prison,  he  was  far  more 
earnest  in  his  work  than  before  ;  yet  willing  to 
preserve  his  liberty  among  his  people,  who  had 
no  minister  that  had  the  oversight  of  them, 
though  some  came  and  preached  while  he  was 
absent.  And  the  people  flocked  so  greatly  after 
him,  that  he  judged  it  best  to  divide  the  com- 
pany into  four,  and  resolved  to  preach  four  times 
each  fSabbath  to  them.  But  tinding  sensibly 
that  would  be  too  hard  for  him,  his  strength 
much  decaying,  he  forbore  that  course,  and 
preached  only  twice  a  Sabbath,  as  formerly, 
and  often  on  week-days  at  home  and  in  the 
country;  and  spent  what  time  he  had  else  from 


154  LIFE    or    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

his  Studying,  in  private  converse  with  God,  as 
formerly  he  had  done  ;  pressing  all  that  feared 
the  Lord,  especially  those  that  were  of  a  more 
weak  and  timorous  spirit,  to  a  life  of  courage 
and  activity  for  God,  and  to  be  much  in  helping 
one  another  by  their  converses,  now  that  minis- 
ters were  withdrawn;  and  to  be  much  in  the 
work  of  praise  and  thanksgiving  to  God,  re- 
joicing and  delighting  themselves  in  him  ;  and 
with  cheerfulness  and  readiness  denying  them- 
selves for  him,  and  resigning  themselves  and  all 
that  they  enjoyed  to  him ;  letting  the  world  know 
that  they  could  live  comfortably  on  God  alone, 
on  his  attributes  and  promises,  though  they 
should  have  nothing  else  left. 

But  it  pleased  the  all-wise  God  to  take  him 
off  from  the  eager  pursuit  of  his  work  and  de- 
signs for  him,  by  visiting  him  in  the  latter  end 
of  August  with  much  weakness,  so  that  he  had 
not  above  three  months'  time  after  he  came  out 
of  prison.  Going  about  sixteen  miles,  at  the 
request  of  a  society  whose  pastor  was  not  able 
to  come  among  them  to  preach,  and  to  adminis- 
ter a  more  solemn  ordinance,  he  was  so  disabled 
that  he  was  not  able  to  perform  the  great  and 
chief  work,  though  he  adventured  to  preach, 
but  with  much  injury  to  himself,  because  he 
would  not  wholly  disappoint  the  people,  who 
came  so  far  as  many  of  them  did.  With  much 
difficulty,  after  three  or  four  days,  I  made  way 
to  get  iiim  home  to  Taunton,  where  we  then 
sojourned,  and  presently  had  the  best  advice  that 
the  most  able  physicians,  both  in  and  around  the 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  155 

town,  could  give ;  who  advised  together,  and  all 
judged  it  to  be  from  his  abundant  labours,  and 
the  preaching  too  soon  after  his  meals,  as  he  did 
when  he  preached  four  times  a  Sabbath,  where- 
by he  had  so  abated  the  natural  heat  of  his  sto- 
mach, that  no  food  would  digest,  nor  oftentimes 
keep  within  him.  He  would  assure  us,  he  was 
in  no  pain,  but  a  constant  discomposure  in  his 
stomach,  and  a  faihng  of  his  appetite  ;  that  he 
could  not  for  many  weeks  bear  the  smell  of  any 
flesh-meat,  nor  retain  any  liquors  or  broths  ;  so 
that  he  consumed  so  fast  that  his  life  seemed  to 
draw  to  an  end.  But  the  Lord  did  so  bless  the 
means,  that  he  recovered  out  of  this  distemper, 
after  two  months'  time  ;  but  so  lost  the  use  of 
his  arms  from  October  till  April,  that  he  could 
not  put  off'  nor  on  his  clothes,  nor  often  write 
either  his  notes  or  any  letters  ;  but  I  wrote  for 
him,  as  he  dictated  to  me.  He  was  by  all  phy- 
sicians, and  by  my  earnest  beseechings,  often 
dissuaded  from  preaching,  but  would  not  be  pre- 
vailed with,  but  did  go  on  once,  and  sometimes 
twice  a  Sabbath,  and  in  his  private  visiting,  all 
that  winter.  In  the  spring  the  use  of  his  arms 
returned,  for  which  he  was  exceedingly  thank- 
ful to  the  Lord  ;  and  we  had  great  hopes  of  his 
recovering  ;  and  making  use  of  farther  remedies, 
he  was  able  to  go  on  with  more  freedom  in  his 
work.  And  the  summer  following,  by  the  use 
of  mineral  waters  in  Wiltshire,  near  the  De- 
vizes, where  he  was  born,  his  strength  was 
much  increased ;  he  finding  great  and  sensible 
good  by  them. 


156  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

But  he  venturiPxg  too  much  on  what  he  had 
ootained,  his  weakness  returned  frequently  upon 
him  the  next  winter,  and  more  in  the  spring 
following,  being  seized  as  he  was  at  the  lirst. 
But  it  continued  not  long  at  a  time,  so  that  he 
preached  often  to  his  utmost  strength,  (nay,  I 
may  say,  much  beyond  the  strength  he  had,) 
both  at  home  and  abroad ;  going  into  some  re- 
mote parts  of  the  country,  where  had  been  no 
meetings  kept  all  that  time  the  ministers  had 
been  out,  which  was  two  years  :  and  there  he 
engaged  several  of  his  brethren  to  go  and  take 
their  turns,  which  they  did  with  great  success. 

He  had  also  agreed  with  two  of  his  brethren 
to  go  into  Wales  with  them,  to  spread  the  gos- 
pel there  ;  but  w'as  prevented  in  that,  by  his 
w^eakness  increasing  upon  him.  It  was  much 
that  he  did,  but  much  more  that  he  desired 
to  do. 

He  was  in  this  time  much  threatened,  and 
warrants  were  often  out  for  him ;  yet  he  was  so 
far  from  being  disturbed,  that  he  rejoiced  that 
when  he  could  do  but  little  for  God,  because  of 
his  distempers,  God  would  so  far  honour  him, 
that  he  should  go  and  suffer  for  him  in  a  prison. 
He  would  often  with  cheerfulness  say,  that  they 
could  not  do  him  a  greater  kindness.  But  the 
Lord  was  yet  pleased  to  preserve  him  from  their 
rage,  seeing  him  not  then  fit  for  the  inconve- 
niences of  a  prison. 

The  Five  Mile  Act  coming  in  force,  he  re- 
moved to  a  place  called  Wellington,  which  is 
reckoned  five  miles  from  Taunton,  to  a  dier's 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  157 

house,  in  a  very  obscure  place,  where  he  preach- 
ed on  the  Lord's  days,  as  he  was  able.  But 
the  vicrilant  eyes  ol"  his  old  adversaries  were  so 
watchful  over  him  that  they  soon  found  him  out, 
and  resolved  to  take  him  thence.  They  put  a 
warrant  into  the  constable's  hand,  to  apprehend 
him  ;  and  sent  for  our  friend,  and  threatened  to 
send  him  to  jail  for  entertaining  such  persons 
in  his  house.  So  my  husband  returned  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  John  Mallack,  a  merchant,  who 
lived  about  a  mile  from  Taunton,  who  had  long 
solicited  him  to  take  his  house  for  his  home. 
We  being  in  such  an  unsettled  state,  my  hus- 
band thought  it  best  to  accept  of  his  courteous 
offer :  but  many  of  his  friends  were  willing  to 
enjoy  him  in  the  town,  and  were  so  earnest, 
that  he  did,  to  satisfy  them,  go  from  one  to  an- 
other, staying  a  fortnight,  or  three  weeks,  or  a 
month,  at  each  house  ;  but  still  took  Mr.  Mal- 
lack's  for  his  home.  This  motion  of  his  friends, 
he  told  me,  (though  it  was  troublesome  for  us 
to  be  so  unsettled,)  he  was  willing  to  embrace, 
because  he  knew  not  how  soon  he  might  be 
carried  again  from  them  to  prison ;  and  he 
should  have  opportunity  to  be  more  intimately 
acquainted  with  them,  and  the  state  of  their 
souls,  and  of  their  children  and  servants,  and 
how  they  perform  their  duties  to  each  other  in 
their  families. 

He  went  from  no  house  without  serious  coun- 
sels, comforts,  or  reproofs,  as  their  conditions 
called  for;  dealing  with  all  that  were  capable, 
both  governors  and  others,  particularly  acquaint- 


158  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

ing  them  faithfully  and  most  affectionately  what 
he  had  seen  amiss  in  any  of  them. 

He  went  from  no  house  that  was  willing  to 
part  with  him  ;  nor  had  he  opportunity  to  an- 
swer the  requests  of  half  that  invited  us  to  their 
houses  ;  so  that  he  would  often  bless  God,  and 
say  with  holy  Mr.  Dod,  that  he  had  a  hundred 
houses  for  one  that  he  parted  with.  Though  he 
had  no  goods,  he  wanted  nothing.  His  Father 
cared  for  him  in  every  thing ;  so  that  he  lived  a 
far  more  pleasant  life  than  his  enemies,  who 
had  turned  him  out  of  all.  He  was  exceedingly 
taken  with  God's  mercy  to  him,  in  Mr.  Mallack's 
entertaining  him  and  me  so  bountifully  :  the 
house,  and  gardens,  and  walks,  were  a  very 
great  delight  to  him,  being  so  pleasant  and 
curious,  and  all  accommodations  within  suitable  ; 
so  that  he  would  often  say,  that  he  did,  as 
Dives,  fare  deliciously  every  day  :  but  he  hoped 
he  should  improve  it  better  than  Dives  did ; 
that  God  had  inclined  him  to  take  care  for  many 
poor,  and  for  several  of  his  brethren  in  the 
ministry  ;  and  now  God  did  reward  him,  by 
not  suffering  him  to  be  at  the  least  expense  for 
himself  or  me. 

He  was  a  very  strict  observer  of  all  providences 
of  every  day,  and  did  usually  reckon  them 
up  to  me  before  he  went  to  sleep,  each  night  after 
he  came  into  his  chamber  and  bed,  to  raise  his 
own  heart  and  mine  to  praise  the  Lord,  and  to 
trust  him,  whom  we  had  such  experience  of 
from  time  to  time. 

The  time  of  the  year  being  come  for  his  going 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  159 

to  the  waters,  he  was  desirous  to  set  one  clay- 
apart  for  thanksgiving  to  God  for  all  his  mercies 
to  him  and  them,  and  so  to  take  his  leave  of  them. 
Accordingly  on  July  10th,  1665,  divers  of  his 
brethren  in  the  ministry,  and  many  of  his  friends 
of  Taunton,  met  together  to  take  their  leave  of 
him  before  his  departure,  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Mallack,  then  living  about  a  mile  out  of  the 
town.  After  they  had  been  a  while  together, 
came  two  justices,  and  several  other  persons 
attending  them,  brake  open  the  doors  by  force, 
(though  they  might  have  unlatched  them,  if  they 
had  pleased,)  and  with  swords  came  in  among 
them.  After  much  deriding  and  menacing  lan- 
guage, which  I  shall  not  here  relate,  having 
taken  their  names,  they  committed  them  to  the 
custody  of  some  constables,  whom  they  charged 
to  bring  them  forth  the  next  day,  at  the  Castle 
Tavern,  in  Taunton,  before  the  justices  of  the 
peace  there.  The  next  day  the  prisoners  ap- 
peared, and  answered  to  their  names  ;  and  after 
two  days'  tedious  attendance  were  all  convicted 
of  a  conventicle,  and  sentenced  to  pay  three 
pounds  apiece,  or  be  committed  to  prison  three- 
score days.  Of  the  persons  thus  convicted,  but 
i'ew  either  paid  their  fines,  or  suffered  their 
friends  to  do  it  for  them.  My  husband,  with 
seven  ministers  more,  and  forty  private  persons, 
were  committed  to  the  prison  of  Ilchester. 
When  he,  together  with  the  rest  of  his  brethren 
and  Christian  friends,  came  to  the  prison,  his 
carriage  and  conversation  was  every  way  as 
exemplary  as  in  his  former  confinement.     Not- 


160  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

withstanding  his  weakness  of  body,  he  would 
constantly  take  his  turn  with  the  rest  of  the 
ministers,  in  preaching  the  gospel  in  the  prison  : 
which  turns  came  about  the  oftener,  though 
there  were  eight  of  them  there  together,  be- 
cause they  had  preaching  and  praying  twice  a 
day,  almost  every  day  they  were  in  prison  ;  be- 
sides other  exercises  of  religion,  in  which  he 
would  take  his  part. 

And  although  he  had  many  of  his  flock  con- 
fined in  prison  wdth  him,  by  which  means  he 
had  the  fairer  opportunity  of  instructing  and 
w^atching  over  them,  for  their  spiritual  good  ;  yet 
he  was  not  forgetful  of  the  rest  that  were  left 
behind,  but  w^ould  frequently  visit  them  also,  by 
his  letters,  full  of  serious,  profitable  matter,  from 
which  they  might  reap  no  small  benefit,  while 
they  were  debarred  of  his  bodily  presence.  And 
how  greatly  solicitous  he  w^as  for  those  that  were 
with  him,  (that  they  might  be  the  better  for 
their  bonds,  walking  w^orthy  of  the  many  and 
great  mercies  they  had  enjoyed  during  their  im- 
prisonment; that  when  they  came  home  to 
their  houses,  they  might  speak  forth  and  live 
forth  the  praises  of  God,  carrying  themselves  in 
every  respect  as  becomes  the  gospel,  for  which 
they  had  been  sufferers,)  you  may  clearly  see 
by  those  parting  counsels  that  he  gave  them  on 
the  morning  that  they  were  delivered  ;  which  I 
shall  recite  in  his  own  words,  as  they  were 
taken  from  his  mouth  in  short  hand,  by  an  inti- 
mate friend  and  fellow-prisoner,  which  you 
may  take  as  follovveth  : — 


Ufe  of  joskph  alleine.  161 

MR.  ALLEIN'e's  exhortation  TO  HIS  FELLOW- 
SUFFERERS,  WHEN"  THEY  WERE  DISCHARGED 
FROM    THEIR    IMPRISONMENT. 

Dearly  beloved  Brethren  : — My  time  is 
little,  and  my  strength  but  small ;  yet  I  could 
not  consent  that  you  should  pass  without  re- 
ceiving some  parting  counsel ;  and  what  I  have 
to  say  at  parting  shall  be  chiefly  to  you  that  are 
prisoners,  and  partly  also  to  you  our  friends  that 
are  here  met  together.  To  you  that  are  prison- 
ers, I  shall  speak  something  by  way  of  exhort- 
ation, and  something  by  way  of  dehortation. 

First:  Rejoice  with  trembling  in  your  prison- 
comforts,  and  see  that  you  keep  them  in  a  thank- 
ful remembrance.  Who  can  tell  the  mercies 
that  you  have  received  here  ?  Neither  my  time 
nor  strength  will  suffice  me  to  recapitulate 
them.  See  that  you  rejoice  in  God  ;  but  rejoice 
with  trembling.  Do  not  think  the  account  will 
be  little  for  mercies,  so  many  and  so  great. 
Receive  these  choice  mercies  with  a  trembling 
hand,  for  fear  lest  you  should  be  found  guilty  of 
misiinproving  such  precious  benefits,  and  so 
wrath  should  be  upon  you  from  the  Lord.  Re- 
member Ilczekiah's  case  :  great  mercies  did  he 
receive  ;  some  praises  he  did  return ;  but  not 
according  to  the  benefit  done  unto  him  :  there- 
fore was  wrath  upon  him  from  the  Lord,  and 
upon  all  Juduh  for  his  sake,  (2  Chron.  xxxii, 
25.)  Therefore  go  away  with  a  holy  fear  upon 
your  hearts,  lest  you  should  forget  the  loving- 
11 


162  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE. 

kindness  of  the  Lord,  and  should  not  render  to 
him  according  to  what  you  have  received. 

O,  my  brethren,  stir  up  yourselves  to  render 
praises  to  the  Lord.  You  are  the  people  that 
God  hath  formed  for  his  praise,  and  sent  hither 
for  his  praise ;  and  you  should  now  go  home, 
as  so  many  trumpets,  to  sound  forth  the  praises 
of  God,  when  you  come  among  your  friends. 
There  is  an  expression,  Psalm  Ixviii,  11 :  "  The 
Lord  gave  the  word,  great  v^-as  the  company 
of  them  that  published  it."  So  let  it  be  said 
of  the  praises  of  God  now,  "  Great  was  the 
company  of  them  that  published  them."  God 
hath  sent  a  Avhole  troop  of  you  here  together  : 
let  all  these  go  home  and  sound  the  praises  of 
God  wherever  you  come  ;  and  this  is  the  way 
to  make  his  praise  glorious  indeed.  Shall  I 
tell  you  a  story  that  I  have  read  ?  There  w^as  a 
certain  king  that  had  a  pleasant  grove ;  and  that 
he  might  make  it  every  way  delightful  to  him,  he 
caused  some  birds  to  be  caught,  and  to  be  kept 
up  in  cages,  till  they  had  learned  sundry  sweet 
and  artificial  tunes :  and  when  they  were  per- 
fect in  their  lessons,  he  let  them  abroad  cut  of 
their  cages  into  his  grove,  that  v/hile  he  was 
walking  in  his  grove,  he  might  hear  them  sing- 
ing those  pleasant  tunes,  and  teaching  them  to 
other  birds  that  were  of  a  wilder  note.  Bre- 
thren, this  king  is  God ;  this  grove  is  his  church ; 
these  birds  are  yourselves  ;  this  cage  is  the 
prison.  God  hath  sent  you  hither,  that  you 
should  learn  the  sweet  and  pleasant  notes  of  his 
praise ;  and  I  trust  that  you  have  learned  some- 


I.IFi:    OF    JOSFPH    AIJ.F.INE.  163 

thinj^  all  this  while  :  God  forbid  else  !  Now 
God  opens  the  cage,  and  lets  you  forth  into  the 
throve  of  his  church,  that  you  may  sing  forth 
his  praises,  and  that  others  may  ]earn  of  you. 
Forget  not,  therefore,  the  songs  of  the  house  of 
your  pilgiimage  ;  do  not  return  to  your  wild 
notes  attain  ;  keep  the  mercy  of  God  for  ever  in 
a  thankful  remembrance  ;  and  make  mention  of 
them  humbly  as  long  as  you  liA'e.  Then  shall 
you  answer  the  end  for  which  he  sent  you 
hither.  I  trust  you  will  not  forget  this  place. 
When  (vHieen  Mar}'  died  she  said,  that  if  they 
did  open  her  Ixxly,  they  should  find  Calais  on 
her  heart.  I  hope  that  men  shall  find  by  you 
hereafter  that  the  prison  is  upon  your  heart  ; 
llchester  is  upon  your  heart. 

Secondly  :  Feed  and  feast  your  faith  on  pri- 
son experience.  Do  not  think  that  God  hath 
done  this  only  for  your  present  supply.  Bre- 
thren, (iod  hath  provided  for  you,  not  only  for 
your  present  supply  in  prison,  but  to  lay  up,  for 
all  vour  lives,  that  experience  that  your  faith 
must  live  upon,  till  faith  be  turned  into  vision. 
I^earn  depcndance  upon  God,  by  all  the  expe- 
riencos  tliat  you  have  had  here.  "  Because 
thou  hast  been  my  help,"  saith  the  psalmist, 
'•  therefore  under  the  shadow  of  thy  wing  will  I 
rejoice."  Arc  you  at  a  loss  at  any  time  ?  Then 
remember  your  bonds.  We  read  in  Scripture 
of  a  time  when  there  was  no  smith  in  all  Israel ; 
and  the  Israelites  were  fain  to  carry  their  goads, 
and  other  instruments,  to  be  sharpened,  down 
to  the    Philistines.     Sq  when  your  spirits  are 


164  LIFE   OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

low,  and  when  your  faith  is  dull,  carry  them  to 
the  prison  to  be  sharpened  and  quickened.  O 
how  hath  the  Lord  confuted  all  our  fears  !  cared 
for  all  our  necessities  ?  The  faith  of  some  of 
you  was  sorely  put  to  it  for  corporal  necessities. 
You  came  hither,  not  having  any  thing  con- 
siderable to  pay  for  your  charges  here  ;  but 
God  took  care  for  that.  And  you  left  poor 
miserable  families  at  home  ;  and  no  doubt  but 
many  troublesome  thoughts  were  in  your  minds, 
what  your  families  should  do  for  bread  ;  but  God 
hath  provided  for  them. 

We  that  are  ministers  left  poor  starving 
flocks,  and  we  thought  that  the  country  had 
been  now  stripped  ;  and  yet  God  hath  provided 
for  them.  Thus  hath  the  Lord  been  pleased  to 
furnish  us  with  arguments  for  our  faith,  against 
we  come  to  the  next  distress.  Though  you 
should  be  called  forth  to  leave  your  flocks  des- 
titute, you  that  are  my  brethren  in  the  ministry, 
and  others  their  families  destitute,  yet  doubt  not 
but  God  will  provide.  Remember  your  bonds 
upon  all  occasions.  Whensoever  you  are  in 
distress,  remember  your  old  friend,  remember 
your  tried  friend. 

Thirdly :  Let  divine  mercy  be  as  oil  to  the 
flame  of  yoin*  love.  "O  love  the  Lord,  all  ye 
his  saints  !"  Brethren,  this  is  the  language  of 
all  God's  dealings  with  you.  They  all  call 
upon  you  to  love  the  Lord  your  God  with  all 
your  hearts,  with  all  your  souls,  with  all  your 
strength.  What  hath  God  been  doing  ever 
since  you  came  to  this  prison  ?     All  that  he 


LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEIXE,  165 

hath  been  doin^  since  you  came  hither  hath 
been  to  pour  oil  into  the  flames  of  your  love, 
thereby  to  increase  and  heighten  them.  God 
hath  lost  all  these  mercies  upon  you,  if  you  do 
not  love  him  belter  than  you  did  before.  You 
have  had  supplies  :  to  what  purpose  is  it,  unless 
you  love  God  the  more  ?  If  they  that  be  in 
want  love  him  better  than  you,  it  were  better 
you  had  been  in  their  case.  You  have  had 
health  here  ;  but  if  they  that  be  in  sickness  love 
God  better  than  you,  it  were  better  you  had 
been  in  sickness  too.  See  that  you  love  your 
Father,  that  hath  been  so  tender  of  you.  What 
hath  God  been  doing,  but  pouring  out  his  love 
upon  you  ?  How  were  we  mistaken !  We 
thought  to  have  felt  the  strokes  of  his  anger  ; 
but  he  hath  stroked  us  as  a  father  his  children, 
with  most  dear  affection.  Who  can  utter  his 
loving  kmdness  ?  What,  my  brethren,  shall  w^e 
be  worse  than  publicans  ?  The  publicans  will 
love  those  that  love  them.  Will  not  you  return 
love  for  so  much  love  ?  Far  be  this  from^  you, 
brethren  ;  you  must  not  only  exceed  the  publi- 
cans, but  the  Pharisees  too  :  therefore,  surely 
you  must  love  him  that  loveth  you.  This  is  my 
business  now,  to  bespeak  your  love  to  God,  to 
imite  your  hearts  to  him.  Blessed  be  God  for 
this  occasion  !  For  my  part  I  am  unworthy  of 
it.  Now  if  I  can  get  your  hearts  nearer  tu  God 
than  they  were,  then  happy  am  I,  and  blessed 
are  you.  Fain  I  would  that  all  these  expe- 
riences should  knit  our  hearts  to  God  more,  and 
endear  us  for  ever  to  him.     What,  shall  there 


166  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

be  SO  much  bounty  and  kindness,  and  no  returns 
of  love  1  at  least  no  farther  returns  ?  I  may- 
plead  in  the  behalf  of  the  Lord  with  you,  as 
they  did  for  the  centurion  :  "He  ioveth  our  na- 
tion," say  they,  "  and  hath  built  us  a  synagogue." 
So  I  may  say  here,  "  He  hath  loved  you,  and 
poured  out  his  bounty  upon  you."  How  many 
friendly  visits  have  you  had  from  those  that  you 
could  but  little  expect !  Whence  do  you  think 
this  came  ?  It  is  God  that  hath  the  key  of  all 
these  hearts.  He  caused  them  to  pour  forth 
kindness  upon  you.  There  is  not  a  motion  of 
love  in  the  heart  of  a  friend  toward  you,  but  it 
was  God  that  put  it  in. 

Fourthly  :  Keep  your  manna  in  a  golden  pot ; 
and  forget  not  him  that  hath  said  so  often,  "  Re- 
member me."  You  have  had  manna  rained 
plentifully  about  you ;  be  sure  that  something 
of  it  be  kept.  Do  not  forget  ail  the  sermons 
that  you  have  heard  here.  O  that  you  would 
labour  to  repeat  them  over,  to  live  them  over ! 
You  have  had  such  a  stock  that  you  may  live 
upon,  and  your  friends  too,  (if  you  be  communi- 
cative.) a  great  while  together.  If  any  thing 
have  been  wanting,  time  for  the  digesting  hath 
been  wanting.  See  that  you  meditate  upon 
what  you  have  heard ;  and  that  you  especially 
remember  the  feasts  of  love.  Do  not  you  know 
who  hath  said  to  you  so  often,  "  Remember 
me  ?"  How  often  have  you  heard  that  sweet 
word  since  you  came  hither?  What!  Do  you 
think  it  is  enough  to  remember  him  for  an  hour  ? 
No  ;  but  let  it  be  a  living  and  a  lasting  remem- 


1.11'E    or    JOSEPH     ALLEIXE.  167 

brance.  Do  not  you  write  that  name  of  his  in 
the  dust,  that  hath  written  your  names  upon  his 
heart.  Your  High  Priest  hath  your  names  upon 
his  heart,  and  therewith  has  entered  into  the 
holy  place  ;  and  keeps  them  there  for  a  memo- 
rial before  the  Lord  continually.  O  that  his 
remembrance  might  be  ever  written  upon  your 
hearts,  written  as  with  the  pen  of  a  diamond 
upon  tables  of  marble,  that  might  never  be  worn 
out !  that,  as  Aristotle  saith  of  the  curious  fabric 
of  Minerva,  he  had  so  ordered  the  fabric  that 
his  name  was  written  in  the  midst ;  and  if  any 
went  to  take  that  out,  the  whole  fabric  was  dis- 
solved: so  the  name  of  Jesus  should  be  written 
upon  the  substance  of  your  souls,  that  they 
should  pull  all  asunder  before  they  sliould  be 
able  to  j)ull  it  out. 

Fifthly;  Let  the  bonds  of  your  affliction 
strengthen  the  bonds  of  your  aflection.  Bre- 
thren, God  hath  sent  us  hither  to  teach  us, 
among  other  things,  the  better  to  love  one  an- 
other. Love  is  lovely,  both  in  the  sight  of 
God  and  men ;  and  if  by  your  imprisonment  you 
have  profited  in  love,  then  you  have  made  an 
acceptabh'  proficiency.  O  brethren,  look  with- 
in. Are  you  not  more  endeared  one  to  another  ? 
I  bless  tlie  Ixnd  for  that  union  and  peace  that 
hiive  been  ever  among  you ;  but  you  must  be 
sensible  that  we  come  very  far  sliort  of  the  love 
that  we  owe  one  to  another.  \\  e  have  not  that 
love,  that  endearedncss,  that  tenderness,  that 
complacency,  that  compassion  toward  each 
other,  that  we  ought  to  liave.     Ministers  should 


168  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

be  more  endeared  one  to  another,  and  Chris- 
tians should  be  more  dear  to  each  other,  than 
they  were  before.  We  have  eaten  and  drunk 
together,  and  Uved  on  our  Father's  iove  in  one 
family  together ;  we  have  been  joined  together 
in  one  common  cause.  O  let  the  remembrance 
of  a  prison,  and  of  what  hath  passed  here,  espe- 
cially those  uniting  feasts,  engage  you  to  love 
one  another. 

Sixthly :  Let  present  indulgence  fit  you  for 
future  hardships.  Beloved,  God  hath  used  you 
like  favourites  now,  rather  than  like  sufferers. 
What  shall  I  say  ?  I  am  at  a  loss,  when  I  think 
of  the  tender  indulgence,  and  the  yearnings  of 
the  bowels,  of  our  heavenly  Father  upon  us. 
But,  my  brethren,  do  not  look  for  such  prisons 
again. 

Affliction  doth  but  now  play  and  sport  w^ith 
you,  rather  than  bite  you  ;  but  do  you  look  that 
affliction  should  hereafter  fasten  its  teeth  on  you 
to  purpose.  And  do  you  look  that  the  hand 
that  hath  n-ow  gently  stroked  you  may  possibly 
buffet  you,  and  put  your  faith  hard  to  it,  when 
you  come  to  the  next  trial.  Bless  God  for 
what  you  have  found  here  ;  but  prepare  you  : 
this  is  but  the  beginning,  (shall  I  say,  the  be- 
ginning of  sorrow  ?  I  cannot  say  so  ;  for  the 
Lord  hath  made  it  a  place  of  rejoicing,)  this  is 
but  the  entrance  of  our  affliction ;  but  you  must 
look,  that  when  you  are  trained  up  to  a  better 
perfection,  God  will  put  your  faith  to  harder 
exercise. 

Seventhly:   Cast  up  your  accounts  at  your 


LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  169 

return,  and  see  whether  you  have  gone  as  much 
forward  in  your  souls  as  you  have  gone  back- 
ward in  your  estates.  I  cannot  be  insensible 
but  some  of  you  are  here  to  very  great  disad- 
vantage as  to  your  affairs  in  the  world,  having 
left  your  business  so  at  home  in  your  shops, 
trades,  and  callings,  that  it  is  likely  to  be  no 
little  detriment  to  you  upon  this  account.  But 
happy  are  ye,  if  you  find  at  your  return,  that  as 
much  as  your  affairs  are  gone  backward  and 
behindhand,  so  much  your  souls  have  gone  for- 
ward. If  your  souls  go  forward  in  grace  by 
your  sufferings,  blessed  be  God  that  hath  brought 
you  to  such  a  place  as  a  prison  is  ! 

Eighthly :  Let  the  snuffers  of  this  prison  make 
your  light  burn  the  brighter;  and  see  that  your 
discourse  be  the  more  savoury,  serious,  and  spi- 
ritual for  this  present  trial.  O  brethren  !  now 
the  voice  of  the  Lord  is  to  you,  as  it  is  in  the 
prophet,  Isaiah  Ix,  1  :  "  Arise  and  shine ;"  now 
"  let  your  light  shine  before  men,  that  others 
may  see  your  good  works,  and  glorify  your  Fa- 
ther which  is  in  heaven."  It  is  said  of  those 
preachers  beyond  sea  that  have  been  sent  into 
England,  and  here  reaped  the  benefit  of  our 
English  practical  divinity,  at  their  return  they 
have  preached  so  much  better  than  they  had 
wont  to  do,  that  it  hath  been  said  of  them,  Ap- 
paniit  hunc  fuisse  in  Anglid.  So  do  you,  my 
brethren,  live  so  much  better  than  you  had  wont, 
that  when  men  shall  see  the  change  in  your 
lives,  they  may  say  of  you,  Apparuit  hanc  fuisse 
in  custodid.     See  that  your  whole   course  bo 


170  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

more  spiritual  and  heavenly  than  ever.  See 
that  you  shine  in  your  families  when  you  come 
home:  be  you  better  husbands,  better  masters, 
better  fathers  ;  study  to  do  more  than  you  have 
done  this  way,  and  to  approve  yourselves  better 
in  your  family  relations  than  you  did  before  ; 
that  the  savour  of  a  prison  may  be  upon  you  in 
all  companies ;  then  wall  you  praise  and  please 
the  Lord. 

Ninthly:  See  that  you  walk  accurately,  as 
those  that  have  the  eyes  of  God,  angels,  and 
men  upon  you.  My  brethren,  you  will  be  looked 
upon  now  with  very  curious  eyes,  God  doth 
expect  more  of  you  than  ever;  for  he  hath  done 
more  for  you,  and  he  looketh  what  fruit  there 
will  be  of  all  this.  O  may  there  be  a  sensible 
change  upon  your  souls,  by  the  showers  that 
have  fallen  in  prison,  as  there  is  in  the  green- 
ness of  the  earth,  by  the  showers  that  have 
fallen  lately  abroad ! 

I  have  also  these  four  things  to  leave  with 
you  : 

First :  Revile  not  your  persecutors,  but  bless 
them,  and  pray  for  them,  as  the  instruments  of 
conveying  great  mercies  to  you.  Do  not  you  so 
far  forget  the  rule  of  Christ,  as  when  you  come 
home  to  be  setting  your  mouths  to  talk  against 
those  that  have  injured  you.  Remember  the 
command  of  your  Lord, ''  Bless  them  that  curse 
you ;  pray  for  them  that  despitefully  use  you 
and  persecute  you."  Whatsoever  they  intended, 
they  have  been  instruments  of  a  great  deal  of 
2nercy  to  us  :  and  so  we  should  pray  for  them, 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIN'E.  171 

and  bless  God  for  the  good  we  have  received 
by  them. 

Secondly :  Let  not  the  humble  acknowledg- 
ment of  God's  mercy  degenerate  into  proud, 
vain-glorious  boasting,  or  carnal  triumph.  I  be- 
seech you,  see  that  you  go  home  v/ith  a  great 
deal  of  fear  upon  your  spirits  in  this  respect, 
lest  pride  should  get  advantage  oi"  you ;  lest, 
instead  of  humble  acknowledging  of  God's  mer- 
cy, there  should  be  carnal  boasting.  Beware  of 
this,  I  earnestly  beg  of  you ;  for  this  will  very 
much  spoil  your  suflerings,  and  be  very  dis- 
pleasing in  the  sight  of  God.  But  let  your 
acknowledging  of  his  mercy  be  ever  with  hum- 
ble, self-abasing  thankfulness  ;  and  be  careful 
that  you  do  not  make  his  mercies  to  be  the  fuel 
of  your  pride,  which  were  to  lose  all  at  once. 

Thirdly :  Be  not  prodigal  of  your  liberty,  upon 
a  conceit  that  the  prisons  will  be  easy,  nor 
fearful  of  adventuring  yourselves  in  the  way  of 
your  duty.  Alas  !  1  am  afraid  of  both  these 
extremes,  lest  some  among  us,  having  found  a 
great  deal  of  mercy  here,  will  now  think  there 
is  no  need  of  any  Christian  prudence,  which  is 
always  necessary,  and  is  a  great  duty.  It  is 
not  cowardice  to  make  use  of  the  best  means 
to  preserve  our  liberty,  iMjt  declining  our  duty. 
On  the  other  side,  there  is  fear  lest  some  may 
be  fearful,  and  ready  to  decline  their  duty,  be- 
cause they  have  newly  tasted  of  a  prison  for  it. 
Far  be  it  from  you  to  distrust  God,  of  whom  you 
have  had  so  great  experience ;  but  be  sure  you 
hold  on  ill  your  duty,  whatsoever  it  cost  you. 


172  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

Fourthly:  Do  not  load  others  with  censures, 
whose  judgment  or  practice  differs  from  yours; 
but  humbly  bless  God  that  hath  so  happily  di- 
rected you.  You  know,  all  are  not  of  the  same 
mind  as  to  the  circumstances  of  suffering-,  and 
all  have  not  gone  the  same  way.  Far  be  it 
from  any  of  you,  my  brethren,  that  you  should  so 
far  forget  yourselves  as  to  be  unmerciful  to  your 
brethren ;  but  bless  God  that  hath  directed  you 
into  a  better  way.  Your  charity  must  grow  higher 
than  ever.  God  forbid  that  you  should  increase 
in  censures,  instead  of  increasing  in  charity! 

Having  spoken  to  my  fellow-prisoners,  I  have 
two  words  to  speak  to  you,  our  friends  and 
brethren  with  us. 

First:  Let  our  experience  be  your  encourage- 
ment. O,  love  the  Lord,  ye  our  friends  ;  love 
the  Lord,  fear  him  for  ever ;  believe  in  him, 
trust  in  him  for  ever,  for  our  sakes  :  we  have 
tasted  of  the  kindness  of  God. 

You  know  how  good  God  hath  been  to  us  in 
spirituals  and  in  temporals.  Encourage  your 
hearts  in  the  Lord  your  God;  serve  him  the 
more  freely  and  gladly  for  our  sakes.  You  see 
we  have  tried,  we  have  tasted  how  good  the 
Lord  is.  Do  you  trust  him  the  more,  because 
we  have  tried  him  so  much,  and  found  him  a 
friend  so  faithful,  so  gracious,  that  we  are  ut- 
terly unable  to  speak  his  praise.  Go  on  and 
fear  not  in  the  way  of  your  duty:  "  verily  there 
is  a  reward  for  the  righteous."  God  hath  given 
us  a  great  reward  already;  but  this  is  but  the 
least .-  we  look  for  a  kingdom. 


LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  173 

Secondly:  My  desire  is  to  our  friends,  that 
they  will  all  help  us  in  our  praises.  Our  tongues 
are  too  Utile  to  speak  forth  the  goodness  and 
the  grace  of  God :  do  you  help  us  in  our  praises. 
Love  the  Lord  the  better,  praise  him  the  more; 
and  what  is  wanting  in  us,  let  it  be  made  good  by 
you.  O  that  the  praises  of  God  may  sound  abroad 
in  the  country  by  our  means,  and  for  our  sakes! 

He  was  prevented  from  going  to  the  waters 
by  his  last  imprisonment ;  for  want  of  which, 
liis  distempers  increased  much  upon  him  all  the 
winter  after,  and  the  next  spring  more  ;  yet  not 
so  as  to  take  him  fully  off  from  his  work,  but  he 
preached,  and  kept  many  days,  and  administered 
the  sacrament  frequently. 

But  going  up  to  the  waters  in  July,  1667,  they 
had  a  contrary  effect  upon  him  from  what  they 
had  at  first.  For  after  three  days  taking  them, 
he  fell  into  a  fever,  which  seized  on  his  spirits, 
and  decayed  his  strength  exceedingly,  so  that 
he  seemed  very  near  death.  But  the  Lord  then 
again  revoked  the  sentence  passed  upon  him, 
and  enabled  him  in  six  weeks  to  return  again  to 
his  peo()le,  where  he  nmch  desired  to  be.  But 
findiuij,  at  his  return,  great  decay  of  his  strength, 
and  a  weakness  in  all  his  limbs,  he  was  willing 
to  go  to  Dorchester,  to  advise  farther  with  Dr. 
Lose,  a  very  worthy  and  reverend  physician, 
from  whom  he  had  rect-ivcd  many  medicines  ; 
but  never  conversed  with  him,  nor  had  seen  him, 
which  he  conceived  might  conduce  more  to  his 
full  cure 


174       LIFE  OF  JOSEPH  ALLEINE. 

The  doctor,  soon  perceiving  my  husband's 
weakness,  persuaded  him  to  continue  for  a  fort- 
night or  three  weeks  there,  that  he  might  the 
better  advise  him,  and  aUer  his  remedies,  as  he 
should  see  occasion;  which  motion  was  readily 
yielded  unto  by  us. 

But  we  had  not  been  there  above  five  days, 
before  the  use  of  all  his  hmbs  was  taken  away 
on  a  sudden  ;  one  day,  his  arms  wholly  failing, 
the  next  his  legs,  so  that  he  could  not  go,  nor 
stand,  nor  move  a  finger,  nor  turn  in  his  bed, 
but  as  myself  and  another  turned  him  night  and 
day  in  a  sheet.  All  means  failing,  he  was  given 
over  by  physicians  and  friends,  that  saw  him  lie 
some  weeks  in  cold  sweats  night  and  day,  and 
many  times  for  some  hours  together,  half  his 
body  cold ;  in  our  apprehensions,  dying ;  re- 
ceiving nothing  but  the  best  cordials  that  art 
can  invent,  and  almond  milk,  or  a  little  thin 
broth  once  in  three  or  four  days.  Thus  he  lay 
from  September  28th  to  November  16th,  before 
he  began  to  revive,  or  it  could  be  discerned  that 
remedies  did  at  all  prevail  against  his  disease. 
In  all  this  time  he  was  still  cheerful ;  and  when 
he  did  speak,  it  was  not  at  all  complaining,  but 
always  praising  and  admiring  God  for  his  mer- 
cies. But  his  spirits  were  so  low,  that  he  spake 
seldom,  and  very  softly.  He  still  told  us  he  had 
no  pain  at  all;  and  when  his  friends  admired 
his  patience,  he  would  say  God  had  not  yet 
tried  him  in  any  thing,  but  in  layfhg  him  aside 
from  his  work,  and  keeping  him  out  of  heaven ; 
but  through  grace  he  could  submit  to  his  plea- 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  175 

sure,  waiting  for  him.  It  was  pain  he  ever 
feared,  and  that  he  had  not  yet  feh,  so  tender 
was  his  Father  of  him,  and  lie  wanted  strength 
(as  lie  often  told  us)  to  speak  more  of  his  love, 
and  to  speak  for  God,  who  had  been,  and  was 
still,  so  gracious  to  him.  Being  often  asked  by 
myself  and  others,  how  it  was  with  his  spirit  in 
all  this  weakness,  he  would  answer,  that  he  had 
not  those  ravishing  joys  that  he  expected,  and 
that  some  believers  partake  of,  but  he  had  a 
sweet  serenity  of  heart,  and  confidence  in  God, 
grounded  on  the  promises  of  the  Gospel,  and 
did  believe  it  would  be  well  with  him  to  all 
eternity. 

In  all  this  time  I  never  heard  one  impatient 
word  from  him,  nor  could  upon  my  strictest  ob- 
servation discern  the  least  discontent  with  this 
state  ;  though  he  was  a  pitiful  object  to  all  that 
beheld  him,  being  so  consumed,  besides  the 
loss  of  the  use  of  his  limbs.  Yet  the  Lord  did 
support  and  quiet  his  spirit,  that  he  lay  as  if  he 
had  endured  nothing  ;  breaking  out  often  most 
alVectionalely  in  commending  the  kindness  of 
the  Lord  to  him,  saying  that  goodness  and 
mercy  had  followed  him  all  his  days. 

And  indeed  the  loving-kindness  and  care  of 
(lod  was  singular  to  us  in  that  place,  which  I 
cannot  but  mention  to  his  praise. 

\Vc  came  strangers  thither,  and  being  in  our 
inn,  we  found  it  very  uncomfortable,  yet  were 
fearful  to  impose  ourselves  on  any  private  house. 
But  necessity  enforcing,  we  did  inquire  for  a 
chamber,  but  could  not  procure  one  ;  the  small- 


176  LIFE   OF   JOSEPH   ALLEINE. 

pox  being  very  hot  in  most  families  ;  and  those 
that  had  them  not  daily  expecting  them,  and  so 
could  not  spare  rooms,  as  else  they  might.  But 
the  Lord,  who  saw  our  affliction,  inclined  the 
heart  of  a  very  good  woman,  (a  minister's  wi- 
dow,) Mrs.  Bartlet,  to  come  and  invite  us  to  a 
lodging  in  her  house  ;  which  we  readily  and 
thankfully  accepted  of;  where  we  were  so  ac- 
commodated as  we  could  not  have  been  any 
M'here  else  in  the  town,  especially  in  regard  of 
the  assistance  I  had  from  four  young  women 
who  lived  under  the  same  roof,  and  so  were 
ready,  night  and  day,  to  help  me  ;  I  having  no 
servant  nor  friend  near  me  :  we  being  so  un- 
settled, I  kept  none,  but  had  always  tended  him 
myself  to  that  time.  The  ministers  and  Chris- 
tians of  that  place  were  very  compassionate  to- 
ward us,  visiting  and  praying  with  and  for  us 
often  ;  and  Dr.  Lose  visited  him  twice  a  day 
for  twelve  or  fourteen  weeks,  except  when  he 
was  called  out  of  town,  refusing  any  fees  that 
were  tendered  to  him.  The  gentry  in  and  about 
the  town,  and  others,  sent  to  us  whatever  they 
imagined  might  be  pleasing  to  him,  furnishing 
him  with  all  delicates  that  might  be  grateful  to 
one  so  weak  ;  so  that  he  wanted  neither  food 
nor  physic,  having  not  only  for  necessity,  but 
for  delight ;  and  he  did  much  delight  himself  in 
the  consideration  of  the  Lord's  kindness  to  him 
in  the  love  he  received  ;  and  would  often  say, 
"  I  was  a  stranger,  and  mercy  took  me  in ;  in 
prison,  and  it  came  to  me  ;  sick  and  weak, 
and  it  visited  me."     There  were  also  ten  young 


LIFE   OF   JOSEPH   ALLEINE.  177 

women,  besides  the  four  in  the  house,  that  took 
their  turns  to  watch  with  him  constantly  :  for 
twelve  weeks'  space  I  never  wanted  one  to  help 
me.  And  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  show  his 
power  so  in  strengthening  me,  that  I  was  every 
night  (all  these  weeks  in  the  depth  of  winter) 
one  that  helped  to  turn  him,  never  lying  out  of 
the  bed  one  night  from  him,  but  every  time  he 
called  or  wanted  any  thing,  was  waking  to  as- 
sist her  in  the  chamber ;  though,  as  some  of 
them  have  said  they  did  tell,  that  we  did  turn 
him  more  than  forty  times  in  a  night ;  he  sel- 
dom sleeping  at  all  in  the  night  in  all  those 
weeks.  Though  his  tender  affections  were 
such  as  to  have  had  me  sometimes  lain  in  an- 
other room,  yet  mine  were  such  to  him,  that  I 
could  not  bear  it ;  the  thoughts  of  it  being  worse 
to  me  than  the  trouble  or  disturbance  he  ac- 
counted I  had  with  him  ;  for  I  feared  none 
would  do  any  thing  about  him  with  such  ease  ; 
neither  would  he  suffer  any  one  all  the  day  to 
touch  him  but  me,  or  to  give  him  anything  that 
he  received  :  by  which  I  discerned  that  it  was 
most  grateful  to  him,  and  therefore  so  to  me  ; 
and  I  never  found  any  want  of  my  rest,  nor  did 
get  so  much  as  a  cold  all  that  winter,  though  I 
do  not  remember  that  for  fourteen  or  fifteen 
years  before  I  could  ever  say  I  was  one  month 
free  from  a  most  violent  cough,  which  if  I  had 
been  molested  with  then  would  have  been  a 
great  addition  to  his  and  my  affliction.  He 
was  not  a  little  taken  with  the  goodness  of  God 
to  me  in  the  time  of  all  his  sickness,  but  espe- 
12 


178  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

cially  that  winter ;  for  he  being  not  able  to 
help  himself  in  the  least,  I  could  not  be  from 
him  night  nor  day,  with  any  comfort  to  him  or 
myself. 

In  this  condition  he  kept  his  bed  till  Decem- 
ber 18th,  and  then,  beyond  all  expectation, 
though  in  the  depth  of  winter,  he  began  to  re- 
vive, and  go  out  of  his  bed  ;  but  he  could  neither 
stand  nor  go,  nor  yet  move  a  finger,  having 
sense  in  all  his  limbs,  but  not  the  least  motion. 
As  his  strength  increased,  he  learned  to  go,  (as 
he  would  say,)  first  by  being  led  by  two  of  us, 
then  by  one  ;  and  when  he  could  go  one  turn 
in  his  chamber,  though  more  weakl}'  and  with 
more  fear  than  the  weakest  child  that  ever  I 
saw,  he  was  wonderfully  taken  with  the  Lord's 
mercy  to  him.  By  February  he  Avas  able,  with 
a  little  help,  to  walk  in  the  streets  ;  but  not  to 
feed  himself,  nor  to  go  up  or  down  stairs  with- 
out much  help. 

When  he  was  deprived  of  the  use  of  his 
limbs,  looking  upon  his  arms,  as  I  held  him  up 
by  all  the  strength  I  had,  he  lifted  up  his  eyes 
from  his  useless  arms  to  heaven,  and  with  a 
cheerful  countenance  said,  "  The  Lord  hath 
given,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away ;  and 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord." 

Being  asked  by  a  friend  how  he  could  be 
contented  to  lie  so  long  under  such  weakness,  he 
answered,  "  What !  is  not  God  my  Father,  Jesus 
Christ  my  Saviour,  and  the  Spirit  my  Friend, 
my  Comforter,  and  Sanctifier,  and  heaven  my 
inheritance  ?     Shall   I  not  be   content  without 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  179 

limbs  and  health  ?  Through  grace  I  am  fully 
satisfied  with  my  Father's  pleasure." 

To  another  that  asked  him  the  same,  he  an- 
swered, "  I  have  chosen  God,  and  he  is  become 
mine  ;  and  I  know  with  whom  I  have  trusted 
myself;  which  is  enough.  He  is  an  unrcason- 
abk^  wretch  that  cannot  be  content  \vith  God, 
though  he  had  nothing  else.  My  interest  in 
God  is  all  my  joy." 

Some  of  his  Taunton  friends  coming  to  Dor- 
chester to  see  him,  he  was  much  revived,  would 
be  set  up  in  his  bed,  and  have  all  the  curtains 
drawn.  He  then  desired  them  to  stand  around 
the  bed,  and  would  have  me  take  out  his  hand 
and  hold  it  out  to  them,  that  they  might  shake 
him,  though  he  could  not  them,  as  he  used  for- 
merly to  do,  when  he  had  been  absent  from 
them.  As  he  was  able,  thus  he  spake  to  them  : 
"  O  how  it  rejoices  my  heart  to  see  your  faces, 
and  to  hear  your  voices,  though  I  cannot  speak 
as  heretofore  to  you  !  Methinks  I  am  now- 
like  old  Jacob,  with  all  his  sons  about  him. 
Now  you  sec  my  weak  estate  :  thus  have  I  been 
for  many  weeks  since  I  parted  with  Taunton  ; 
but  God  hath  been  with  me,  and  I  hope  with 
you.  Your  prayers  have  been  heard  and  an- 
swered for  me  many  ways :  the  Lord  return 
them  into  your  own  bosoms.  My  friends,  life 
is  mine,  death  is  mine.  In  that  covenant  which 
I  was  preaching  of  to  you  is  all  my  salvation 
and  all  my  desire.  Although  my  body  do  not 
prosper,  !  hope,  through  grace,  my  soul  doth. 

"  I  have  lived  a  sweet  life  by  the  ppomises  ; 


180  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIN'E. 

and  I  hope,  through  grace,  that  I  can  die  by  a 
promise.  It  is  the  promises  of  God,  which  are 
everlasting,  that  will  stand  by  us.  Nothing  but 
God  in  them  will  support  us  in  a  day  of  affliction. 

"  My  dear  friends,  I  feel  the  power  of  those 
doctrines  that  I  preached  to  you  on  my  heart. 
Now  the  doctrines  of  faith,  of  repentance,  of 
self-denial,  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  of  content- 
ment, and  the  rest ;  O  that  you  would  live  them 
over,  now  that  I  cannot  preach  to  you ! 

"  It  is  a  shame  for  a  believer  to  be  cast  down 
under  afflictions,  when  he  hath  so  many  glori- 
ous privileges,  such  as  justification,  adoption, 
sanctification,  and  eternal  glory.  We  shall  be 
as  the  angels  of  God  in  a  little  while.  Nay,  to 
say  the  truth,  believers  are,  as  it  were,  little 
angels  already,  that  live  in  the  power  of  faith. 
O  my  friends  !  live  like  believers  ;  trample  this 
world  under  your  feet.  Be  not  taken  up  with 
its  comforts,  nor  disquieted  with  its  crosses. 
You  will  be  gone  out  of  it  shortly." 

When  they  came  to  take  leave  of  him,  he 
would  pray  with  them  as  his  weak  state  would 
suffer  him  ;  and  in  the  words  of  Moses,  and  of 
the  apostles,  he  blessed  them  in  the  same  man- 
ner that  he  always  used  to  do  after  a  sacrament. 
"  The  Lord  bless  you,  and  keep  you  ;  the  Lord 
cause  his  face  to  shine  upon  you,  and  give  you 
peace.  And  the  God  of  peace,  that  brought 
again  from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus,  through  the 
blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant,  make  you  per- 
fect in  every  good  work  to  do  his  will,  working 
in  you  that  which  is  well  pleading  in  his  sight 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  181 

through  Jesus  Christ ;  to  whom  be  glory,  for 
ever  and  ever.     Amen." 

He  then  spake  thus  :  "  Farewell,  farewell, 
my  dear  friends.  Remember  me  to  all  Taunton. 
I  beseech  you  and  them,  if  I  never  see  your 
faces  more,  to  go  home  and  live  over  what  I 
have  preached  to  you  ;  and  the  Lord  provide 
for  you  when  I  am  gone.  O  let  not  all  my  la- 
bours and  sufferings,  let  not  my  wasted  strength, 
my  useless  limbs,  rise  up  in  judgment  against 
you  at  the  great  day  of  the  Lord." 

Another  time,  some  friends  coming  to  visit 
him  there,  he  spake  thus  to  them  :  "0  my 
friends,  let  your  whole  conversation  be  as  be- 
comes the  gospel  of  Christ.  Whether  I  am 
present  or  absent,  live  according  to  what  I  have 
spoken  to  you  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  Now  that 
I  cannot  preach  to  you,  let  my  wasted  strength, 
my  useless  limbs,  be  a  sermon  to  you.  Behold 
me  :  1  cannot  move  a  finger.  All  this  is  come 
upon  me  for  your  sakes,  and  the  gospel.  It  is 
for  Christ  and  you  that  I  have  thus  spent  myself. 
I  am  afraid  of  you,  lest  some  of  you,  after  all 
that  1  have  spoken  to  you,  should  be  lost  in  the 
world.  There  are  many  professors  who  can 
pray  well,  and  talk  well,  Avhom  we  shall  find 
at  the  left  hand  of  Christ  another  day.  You 
have  your  trades,  your  estates,  your  relations : 
be  not  taken  up  with  these,  but  with  d'od.  O  live 
on  liim  !  For  the  Lord's  sake,  go  home  and 
take  heed  of  the  world,  of  worldly  cares,  worldly 
comforts,  worldly  friends. 

"  The   Lord    having  given   authority  to  his 


182  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

ministers  to  bless  his  people,  I  accordingly  bless 
you  in  his  name."  He  used  the  same  words, 
as  before,  and  so  parted  with  them;  uttering 
many  other  expressions  of  hi?  love  to  them  and 
to  the  town. 

And  thus  he  used  to  converse  with  all  that 
came  to  visit  him,  as  he  was  able,  looking  always 
cheerfully  upon  them,  and  never  complaining  of 
any  affliction  that  he  was  under,  except  it  were 
to  excite  his  Taunton  friends  to  their  several 
duties. 

In  February,  being  very  desirous  to  return 
among  his  people,  he  proposed  it  to  his  doctor, 
who  consented  to  it,  fearing  that  the  air  might 
be  too  keen  for  him  in  March  ;  and  hoping  that 
it  might  much  conduce  to  his  cure,  to  satisfy 
his  mind. 

In  a  horse-litter  I  removed  him.  He  was 
much  pleased  at  the  sight  of  the  place,  and  of  his 
people,  who  came  flocking  about  him  ;  and  he 
seemed  to  increase  in  strength,  so  that  he  was 
able  to  feed  himself  in  a  week  after  he  came 
home  But  I,  fearing  that  the  frequent  visits  of 
his  friends  might  be  prejudicial  to  him,  per- 
suaded him  to  remove  to  Mr.  Mallack's  house, 
which  he  was  again. invited  to,  and  where  he 
was  most  courteously  entertained. 

Thus  he  continued  increasing  in  strength,  till 
the  beginning  of  April,  when  he  began  to  decline 
again  ;  and  was  taken,  after  some  days,  wdth 
convulsive  fits,  as  he  sat  in  his  chamber  one 
afternoon,  and  had  three  or  four  more  fits  that 
night.     But  in  the  use  of  means,  through  God's 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  183 

blessing,  he  had  no  more  in  three  \veeks.  One 
evening,  being  in  his  chamber,  he  desired  me 
to  leave  him  awhile  alone,  which  I  was  very 
unwilling  to  do,  yet  his  importunity  made  me 
go  down  from  him.  But  in  less  than  half  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  he  was  fallen  to  the  ground 
in  one  of  his  former  fits,  and  had  hurt  his  face. 
From  his  nose  came  much  blood,  which  was 
clotted  and  corrupt.  The  physicians,  seeing 
this,  concluded  (though  it  was  grievous  to  me, 
that  under  such  weakness,  he  should  have  so 
sad  an  accident)  that  the  fall  had  saved  his  life. 
For  had  not  that  blood  come  from  his  head,  he  had, 
so  far  as  they  could  rationally  judge,  died  in  that 
fit,  which  took  away  his  senses  for  the  present; 
but  he  went  to  bed  and  slept  so  w  ell  that  night, 
as  he  had  not  done  in  many  weeks  before,  that 
myself  and  friends  feared  that  he  was  in  an 
apoplexy.  But  he  awoke  about  six  in  the 
morning,  much  refreshed,  and  full  of  the  praises 
of  God  lor  his  mercies  to  him  ;  being  very  sen- 
sible how  suddenly  he  was  surprised  the  eve- 
ning before.  After  this  he  lived  always  expect- 
ing death,  saying  often  to  me  and  his  friends, 
"  It  is  but  a  pufT,  and  I  am  gone."  He  there- 
fore would  every  night  after  he  had  been  at 
prayer  bid  all  the  family  farewell ;  telling  them 
he  might  be  dead  before  the  morning ;  and, 
dropping  some  holy  counsels  to  them,  would 
depart  to  his  chamber.  All  the  while  that  I 
was  undressing,  he  would  be  discoursing  of 
spiritual  things,  it  being  his  delight ;  and  when 
he  lay  down  to  rest,  his  last  words  were  usually, 


184       LIFE  OF  JOSEPH  ALLEINE. 

"  We  shall  shortly  be  in  another  bed  ;  therefore 
it  is  good  to  mind  it,  and  provide  for  it  apace. 
Farewell,  my  dear  heart ;  the  Lord  bless  thee !" 
and  so  he  would  go  to  rest.  In  his  health  and 
sickness,  his  first  speeches  in  the  morning 
would  be,  "  Now  we  have  one  day  more  ;  here 
is  one  more  for  God  ;  now  let  us  live  well  this 
day ;  work  hard  for  our  souls  ;  lay  up  much 
treasure  in  heaven  this  day  ;  for  we  have  but 
a  few  to  live." 

After  this  the  strength  of  his  limbs,  which 
were  decayed,  returned  again  ;  and  he  was,  be- 
yond all  expectation,  so  far  recovered  that  we 
had  no  fears  of  his  relapsing  again.  His  appe- 
tite and  rest  were  repaired.  But  about  the  6th 
of  May  he  began  again  to  find  weakness  in  his 
stomach,  which  in  a  few  days  so  grew  upon 
him  that  he  lost  his  limbs  again  ;  and  on  the 
12th  of  May,  in  the  morning,  having  lain  some 
days  and  nights  in  cold  sweats,  as  heretofore  at 
Dorchester,  he  was  again  seized  with  convul- 
sions ;  first  lying  four  hours  with  his  eyes  fixed 
on  heaven,  not  speaking  one  word,  nor  in  the 
least  moving  himself ;  myself  and  friends  weep- 
ing by  him  :  at  last  he  spake  to  us  with  a  very 
audible  voice,  "  Weep  not  for  me,  my  work  is 
done."  He  seemed  to  be  full  of  matter,  which 
he  desired  to  utter  to  us,  but  was  immediately 
seized  with  a  terrible  convulsion  which  was  sad 
to  behold.  It  so  altered  his  countenance,  and 
put  him  into  such  sweats,  that  it  was  strange  to 
see  how  the  drops  lay  and  ran  down  his  face, 
handSj  and  whole  body.     This  held  him  two 


LIFE  OF  JOSEPH  ALLEINE.       185 

hours  or  more,  and  then  ceased  ;  but  he  Avas 
left  by  it  without  any  sense  ;  and  in  a  quarter 
of  an  hour,  or  a  little  more,  he  fell  into  another, 
in  which  he  rattled,  and  was  cold  ;  so  that  we 
apprehended  every  breath  would  be  his  last. 
The  physician,  who  was  then  by  him,  accounted 
his  pulse  to  be  gone,  and  that  he  would  be  dead 
in  a  few  minutes.  But  the  Lord  showed  his 
power  once  again  in  raising  him  up ;  so  that 
many  who  came  and  saw  him,  and  who  heard 
the  next  day  that  he  was  alive,  would  not  be- 
lieve it  till  they  came  and  saw  him  again. 
These  violent  fits  went  oif  about  twelve  o'clock, 
and  he  revived,  but  had  no  sense  to  converse 
M-ith  us  till  the  next  day  ;  nor  did  he  perfectly 
recover  them  for  four  days  after.  He  then  was 
as  before,  and  so  continued  very  weak  till  July, 
no  strength  coming  into  his  hands  or  legs.  For 
the  most  part  he  was  confined  to  his  bed  ;  but 
was  still  cheerful  in  his  spirit,  and  free  to  dis- 
course with  any  that  came  to  visit  him  as  long 
as  he  was  able. 

The  Lord  had  yet  more  work  for  him  to  do. 
Seeing  him  lie  so  hopeless,  as  to  his  life  or 
limbs,  and  considering  the  winter  was  coming 
on  apace,  I  proposed  to  the  doctors  to  remove 
him  to  liath  :  some  were  for  it,  others  against 
it.  Acquainting  my  husband  with  the  subject, 
he  was  much  pleased  with  it,  and  so  eaniest  in 
it,  that  I  sent  immediately  to  Bath  for  a  horse- 
litter  ;  and  the  Lord  was  pleased  strangely  to 
appear  in  strengthening  him  for  his  journey  ; 
so  that  he  that  had  not  in  manv  weeks  been  out 


186  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

of  his  bed  and  chamber  was  able  in  two  days  to 
travel  nearly  forty  miles.  When  he  came  to 
Bath,  the  doctors  there  seemed  to  be  much 
amazed  to  behold  such  an  object,  professing 
that  they  never  saw  the  like  ;  much  wondering 
how  he  was  come  alive  such  a  journey,  and 
doubted  much  whether  or  not  they  should  put 
him  into  the  water.  But  he  having  tried  all  ar- 
tificial baths,  and  ointments,  and  plasters  before, 
he  resolved,  against  their  judguient,  to  adventure 
himself. 

At  his  first  appearance  in  Bath,  being  wasted 
to  skin  and  bone,  some  of  the  ladies  were  af- 
frighted, as  if  death  had  come  among  them,  and 
could  not  endure  to  look  toward  him. 

The  first  time  he  went  in,  he  was  able  to  stay 
but  a  little  while  ;  but  was  much  refreshed,  and 
had  no  symptom  of  his  fits,  which  he  feared  the 
bath  might  have  caused  again.  Through  the 
blessing  of  the  Lord  upon  this  means,  without 
any  thing  else,  except  his  drinking  of  goats' 
milk,  he  that  was  not  able  to  go  nor  stand,  nor 
move  a  finger,  could  in  three  weeks'  time  walk 
about  his  chamber,  and  feed  himself.  His  im- 
paired appetite  was  again  restored ;  and  his 
strength  so  increased,  that  there  seemed  no 
doubt  to  the  physicians  of  his  full  recovery  ;  he 
having  not  the  least  sign  of  any  inclination  to 
his  fits,  from  the  12th  of  May  till  his  death 
drew  nigh. 

In  this  time  of  his  being  in  Bath,  his  soul 
was  far  more  strengthened  with  grace  ;  so  that 
myself  and  all  that  beheld  him,  and  conversed 


LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  187 

■with  him,  discerned  sensibly  his  growth  ;  and 
he  was  in  the  nights  and  days  so  frequently 
with  God.  and  often  in  such  ravishment  of  spirit, 
from  the  joys  and  consolation  that  he  received 
from  the  Spirit  of  God,  that  it  was  often  more 
than  he  could  express,  or  his  bodily  strength 
could  bear  ;  so  that,  for  my  own  part,  I  had  less 
hopes  of  his  continuance  on  earth  than  ever  be- 
fore. For  I  perceived  plainly  that  the  Lord  had 
spared  him  but  to  recover  strength  of  grace,  and 
to  make  him  a  more  evident  instance  of  his  sin- 
gular love,  before  he  took  him  hence. 

He  being  now  more  cheerful  than  formerly, 
and  more  exceedingly  affectionate  in  his  con- 
duct toward  me,  and  to  all  his  friends,  especially 
with  those  that  were  most  heavenly,  the  Lord 
Avas  pleased  to  order  it  in  his  providence  that 
there  were  many  such  then  who  came  to  use 
the  bath  ;  as  Mr.  Fairclough  and  his  wife  ;  Mr. 
Howe,  of  Torrington  ;  Mr.  Joseph  Barnard  and 
his  wife  ;  and  several  of  our  Taunton  friends, 
and  of  Bristol  ministers  and  others  ;  which  was 
a  great  comfort  to  us. 

His  mind  seemed  to  bo  more  quick  in  conver- 
sation, whatever  he  was  put  upon,  either  by 
scholars,  or  by  those  that  were  more  inferior. 
He  had  n^any  visiters  there,  both  of  strangers 
and  friends,  who  were  willing  to  see  him,  and 
discourse  with  him,  having  heard  what  a  monu- 
ment of  mercy  he  was  :  and  he  would  to  all  of 
them  so  expatiate  upon  all  the  passages  of  God's 
dealings  with  him,  as  was  very  pleasant  to  all 
tliat  heard  him  ;  and  did  affect  manv  that  were 


188  LIFE   OF   JOSEPH  ALLEINE. 

Strangers  to  God,  and  to  religion,  as  well  as  to 
him. 

He  found  so  much  favour  even  among  the 
worst,  that  both  gejiiry  and  others  (such  as 
would  make  a  scoff  at  religion,  or  holy  discourse 
from  others)  would  hearken  to  him.  Though 
he  did  often  faithfully  reprove  many  for  their 
oaths,  and  excess  in  drinking,  and  their  lascivious 
conduct,  which  he  observed  in  Bath  ;  and  there 
was  none  of  them  but  did  most  thankfully  ac- 
cept it  from  him,  and  showed  him  more  respect 
after,  than  they  had  done  before.  In  this  he 
observed  much  of  God*s  goodness  to  him,  and 
would  often  say  to  me,  "  O  how  good  it  is  to  be 
faithful  to  God!"  The  vilest  of  these  persons, 
as  I  was  by  several  informed,  said  to  him  that 
he  never  spake  to  such  a  man  in  his  life. 

His  reproofs  were  managed  with  so  much  re- 
spect to  their  persons,  and  the  honourable  es- 
teem he  had  of  their  dignity,  that  they  said, 
they  could  not  but  accept  his  reproofs,  though 
they  were  very  close  and  plain.  His  way  was, 
some  time  before  he  intended  to  reprove  them, 
often  in  the  bath  to  converse  with  them  of  things 
that  might  be  taking  with  them  ;  and  he  so  en- 
gaged their  affections  that  they  would  willingly 
every  day  converse  with  him  :  he  being  furnish- 
ed (from  his  former  studies)  for  any  company, 
designing  to  use  it  still  for  holy  ends.  By  such 
means  he  caught  many  souls. 

While  he  vras  in  this  place,  though  he  had 
many  diversions,  by  his  using  the  bath  every 
day,  and  his  frequent  visits,  besides  his  weak- 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  189 

ness,  he  kept  his  constant  seasons,  four  times 
a  day,  for  holy  retirement ;  waking  in  the  morn 
ing"  constantly  at  or  before  live  o'clock,  and 
would  not  be  disturbed  till  about  seven,  when 
he  was  carried  to  the  bath.  Having  the  cur- 
tains drawn  close,  he  spent  his  time  in  holy 
meditation,  and  prayer,  and  singing  ;  and  once 
again  before  dinner ;  but  then  he  spent  less 
time  ;  and  about  half  an  hour  before  two  in  the 
afternoon,  just  before  he  went  abroad. 

Though  he  never  attained  to  so  much  strength 
as  to  be  able  to  walk  abroad  in  the  streets  with- 
out my  leading  him,  or  some  other,  yet  he  would 
be  employed  for  his  Lord  and  Master.  His 
chairmen  that  used  to  carry  him  to  the  bath,  he 
appointed  to  fetch  him  about  three  o'clock,  who 
carried  him  to  visit  all  the  schools  and  alms- 
houses, and  the  godly  poor,  especially  the  wi- 
dows ;  to  whom  he  would  give  money,  and  with 
whom  he  would  pray,  and  converse  with  them 
concerning  their  spiritual  state,  according  as 
their  necessities  required  ;  engaging  those  that 
were  teachers  and  governors  to  leach  the  As- 
sembly's Catechism,  buying  many  dozens,  and 
giving  them  to  distribute  to  their  scholars  ;  and 
many  other  small  books  which  he  thought  might 
be  useful  for  them  ;  and  then  would  come  and 
see,  in  a  week  or  fortnight,  what  progress  they 
had  made.  He  also  engaged  several  to  send 
their  children  once  a  week  to  him  to  be  cate- 
chised ;  and  we  had  about  sixty  or  seventy  chil- 
dren every  Lord's  day  at  our  lodging  ;  and  they 
profited  much  by  his  instructions,  till  some  look 


190  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

such  offence  at  it  that  he  was  forced  to  desist. 
The  schoobnaster  was  threatened  to  be  cited  to 
Wells,  before  the  bishop  ;  and  many  others  af- 
frighted from  it. 

He  also  sent  for  ail  the  godly  poor  he  could 
find  in  that  place,  entertained  them  at  his  cham- 
ber, and  gave  to  every  one  of  them  as  he  was 
able,  as  a  thank-offering  to  the  Lord  for  his 
mercy  to  him  ;  and  desired  them,  with  several 
others,  to  keep  a  day  of  thanksgiving  for  him  ; 
Mr.  Fairciough,  Mr.  Howe,  and  himself  per- 
forming the  duties  of  the  day. 

Thus  though  his  sickness  had  been  long,  and 
his  expenses  great,  he  thought  he  could  never 
spend  enough  for  Him  from  whom  he  had  re- 
ceived all.  He  constantly  gave  money  or  apples 
to  all  the  children  that  came  to  be  catechised 
by  him,  to  engage  them  ;  besides  all  that  he 
gave  to  the  teachers,  and  poor,  which  indeed 
was  beyond  his  ability,  considering  his  estate. 
But  I  am  persuaded,  that  he  foresaw  that  his 
time  would  be  short ;  and  having  made  a  com- 
petent provision  for  me,  he  resolved  to  lay  up 
the  rest  in  heaven.  He  often  said  to  me,  that 
if  he  lived  never  so  long,  he  would  not  in- 
crease his  estate,  now  that  I  was  provided  for  ; 
he  having  no  children,  God's  children  should 
have  it. 

But  he  was  again  designing  what  he  should 
do  before  he  took  his  leave  of  the  world  :  and 
his  next  work  was,  to  send  letters  to  all  his  re- 
lations and  intimate  friends,  in  most  of  which 
he  urged  them  to  observe  his  counsels,  for  they 


LIFi:    OF   JOSEPH    ALLELNE.  191 

were  likely  to  be  his  last  to  them.  I  always 
wrote  for  him  ;  for  he  could  not,  by  reason  of 
his  weakness,  write  a  line. 

At  this  time  he  had  a  great  desire  to  go  to 
Mr.  Joseph  Barnard's,  which  was  about  five 
miles  from  Bath,  there  to  finish  his  last  work 
for  God  that  ever  he  did  on  earth  ;  which  was 
to  promote  the  exercise  of  catechising  in  Somer- 
setshire and  Wiltshire.  Mr.  Barnard  having 
had  a  great  deliverance  as  well  as  himself,  he 
proposed  this  to  him  as  their  thank-ofi'ering  to 
God,  which  they  would  jointly  tender  to  him. 
They  had  engaged  one  to  another,  to  give  so 
much  for  the  printing  of  six  thousand  of  the  As- 
sembly's Catechisms,  and  among  other  friends 
to  raise  some  money  to  send  to  every  minister 
that  would  engage  in  the  work,  and  to  give  to 
the  children  for  their  encouragement  in  learn- 
ing. This  work  was  finished  by  Mr.  Barnard, 
after  my  husband  was  gone  to  his  rest. 

Finding  himself  to  decline  again,  he  appre- 
hended that  it  was  for  want  of  using  the  bath  ; 
he  therefore  desired  to  return  ;  and  I  being  fear- 
ful lest  he  should  ride  home,  seeing  some  symp- 
toms of  his  fits,  sent  for  the  horse-litter,  and  so 
carried  him  again  to  Bath  :  where,  by  the  doc- 
tor's advice,  after  he  had  taken  some  things  to 
prepare  his  body,  he  made  use  of  the  hot  bath, 
(the  cross-bath  being  then  too  cold,)  and  so  he 
did  for  four  days,  and  seemed  to  be  refreshed. 
The  strength  that  he  had  in  his  limbs  appeared 
to  recover,  rather  than  abate  ;  and  two  of  his 
Taunton   friends   coming  to   see   him,  he  was 


192  LIFE   OF   JOSEPH   ALLEINE. 

cheerful  with  them.  But  on  the  3d  of  Novem- 
ber I  discerned  a  great  change  in  his  counte- 
nance; and  he  found  a  great  alteration  in  him- 
self, but  concealed  it  from  me,  as  I  heard  after. 
For  some  friends  coming  to  visit  him,  he  desired 
them  to  pray  for  him,  for  his  time  was  very 
short ;  but  desired  them  not  to  tell  me  of  it. 
All  that  day  he  would  not  permit  me  to  move 
out  of  the  chamber  from  him,  except  once  while 
those  friends  were  with  him.  After  we  had 
dined,  he  was  in  a  more  than  ordinary  manner 
transported  with  affection  toward  me ;  which 
he  expressed,  by  returning  me  thanks  for  all 
my  pains  and  care  for  him  and  with  him,  and 
offering  up  many  most  affectionate  requests  for 
me  to  God,  before  he  would  suffer  me  to  rise  as 
we  sat  together.  At  night  again,  at  supper, 
before  I  could  rise  from  him,  he  spake  thus  to 
me  : — "  Well  now,  my  dear  heart,  my  compa- 
nion in  all  my  tribulations  and  afflictions,  I  thank 
thee  for  all  thy  pains  and  labours  for  me,  at 
home  and  abroad,  in  prison  and  liberty,  in  health 
and  sickness  ;"  reckoning  up  many  places  we 
had  been  in,  in  the  days  of  our  affliction.  With 
several  other  most  endearing  and  affectionate 
expressions,  he  concluded  with  many  holy 
breathings  to  God  for  me,  that  he  would  requite 
me,  and  never  forget  me,  and  fill  me  with  all 
manner  of  grace  and  consolations ;  that  his  face 
might  still  shine  upon  me,  and  that  I  might  be 
supported  and  carried  through  all  difficulties. 

After  this  he  desired  me  to  see  for  a  "  Prac- 
tice of  Piety  ;•'  and  I  procuring  one  for  him,  he 


LIFE   OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  193 

turned  his  chair  from  me,  that  I  might  not  see, 
and  read  the  meditations  about  death  in  the  lat- 
ter end  of  tlial  book;  which  1  discernin^r,  asked 
of  him,  whether  he  apprehended  that  his  end 
was  near:  to  which  he  replied,  he  knew  not; 
in  a  few  days  I  would  see ;  and  so  fell  into  dis- 
course, to  divert  me;  desiring  me  to  read  two 
chapters  to  him,  as  I  used  to  do  every  night; 
and  so  he  hasted  to  bed,  not  being  able  to  go 
to  prayer.  With  his  own  hands  he  did  very 
hastily  undo  his  coat  and  doublet,  which  he  had 
not  done  in  many  months  before.  As  soon  as 
he  was  in  bed  he  told  me  that  he  felt  some 
more  than  ordinary  stoppage  in  his  head;  and  I 
brought  him  something  to  prevent  the  fits,  which 
I  feared.  But  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after  he 
fell  into  a  very  strong  convulsion  ;  which  I  being 
much  affrighted  at,  called  for  help,  and  sent  for 
the  doctors.  We  used  all  former  and  other 
means,  but  no  success  the  Lord  w^as  pleased  to 
give  then  to  any.  The  convulsions  continued 
for  two  days  and  nights,  not  ceasing  one  hour. 

It  was  most  grievous  to  me,  that  I  saw  him 
so  likely  to  depart,  and  that  I  should  hear  him 
speak  no  more  to  me;  fearing  that  it  would 
liardcn  the  wicked  to  see  him  removed  by  such 
a  stroke  :  for  his  fits  were  most  terrible  to  be- 
hold. I  earnestly  besought  the  Lord,  that,  if  it 
were  his  pleasure,  he  would  so  far  mitigate  the 
heavy  stroke  which  I  saw  was  connng  upon  me, 
by  causing  him  to  utter  something  of  his  heart 
before  he  took  him  from  me  ;  which  he  gracious- 
ly answered  me  in ;  for  he  that  had  not  spoken 
13 


194  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

from  Tuesday  night,  did,  on  Friday  morning, 
about  three  o'clock,  call  for  me  to  come  to  him, 
speaking  very  correctly  at  times  all  that  day. 
On  that  night,  about  nine  o'clock,  he  broke  out 
with  an  audible  A'oice,  speaking  for  sixteen 
hours  together,  those  and  such  like  words  as  I 
formerly  gave  account  of;  and  ceased  but  a  very 
little  space,  now  and  then,  all  the  afternoon,  till 
about  six  on  Saturday  in  the  evening,  when  he 
departed. 

About  three  in  the  afternoon  he  had,  as  we 
perceived,  some  conflict  with  Satan  ;  for  he  ut- 
tered these  words  : — 

"  Away,  thou  foul  fiend,  thou  enemy  of  all 
mankind,  thou  subtle  sophister  ;  art  thou  come 
now  to  molest  me  ?  now  I  am  just  going !  now 
I  am  so  weak,  and  death  upon  me  !  Trouble  me 
not ;  for  I  am  none  of  thine  !  I  am  the  Lord's. 
Christ  is  mine,  and  I  am  his  :  his  by  covenant ; 
I  have  sworn  myself  to  be  the  Lord's,  and  his  I 
will  be.     Therefore  begone." 

These  last  words  he  repeated  often,  which  I 
took  much  notice  of,  that  his  covep.anting  with 
God  v/as  the  means  which  he  used  to  expel  the 
devil  and  all  his  temptations. 

During  the  time  that  we  were  in  Bath  I  had 
very  few  hours  alone  with  him,  by  reason  of  his 
constant  using  the  bath,  and  the  visits  of  friends 
from  all  parts  thereabouts,  and  sometimes  from 
Taunton  ;  and  when  they  were  gone  he  would 
be  either  retiring  to  God,  or  to  his  rest.  But 
what  time  I  had  with  him,  he  always  spent  in 
^heavenly    and    profitable    discourse,    speaking 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  195 

much  of  the  place  he  was  going  to,  and  his 
desires  to  be  gone.  One  morning  as  I  was 
dressing  him,  he  looked  up  to  heaven  and 
smiled ;  and  I  urging  him  to  know  why,  he 
answered  me  thus : — "  Ah,  my  love,  I  was 
thinking  of  my  marriage-day:  it  will  be  shortly. 
0  what  a  joyful  day  will  that  be !  Will  it  not, 
thinkest  thou,  my  dear  heart?" 

Another  time,  bringing  him  some  broth,  he 
said,  "  Blessed  be  the  Lord  for  these  refresh- 
ments in  the  way  home ;  but  O  how  sweet  will 
heaven  be  !'' 

Another  time,  "•  I  hope  to  be  shortly  where  I 
shall  need  no  meat,  nor  drink,  nor  clothes." 

When  he  looked  on  his  weak  consumed 
hands,  he  would  say,  "These  shall  be  changed. 
This  vile  body  shall  be  made  like  to  Christ's 
glorious  body. 

"  O  what  a  glorious  day  will  the  day  of  the 
resurrection  be !  Methinks  I  see  it  by  faith. 
How  will  the  saints  lift  up  their  heads  and 
rejoice ;  and  how  sadly  will  the  wicked  world 
look  then! 

"  O  come  let  us  make  haste  ;  our  Lord  will 
come  .shortly ;  let  us  prepare. 

•'  If  we  long  to  be  in  heaven,  let  us  hasten 
with  our  work ;  for  when  that  is  done,  away  we 
shall  be  fetched. 

"  O  this  vain  foolish  world,  I  wonder  how 
reasonable  creatures  can  so  dole  upon  it!  AVhat 
is  in  it  worth  the  looking  after?  I  care  not  to 
be  in  it  longer  than  while  my  Master  hath  cither 
doing  or  suffering  work  for  me:  were  that  done, 
farewell  to  earth."    • 


196  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH   ALLEIXE. 

He  was  much  in  commending'  the  love  of 
Christ,  and  from  that  exciting  himself  and  me 
to  obedience  to  him,  often  speaking  of  his  suf- 
ferings and  of  his  glory. 

With  his  love-letters,  as  he  called  the  holy 
history  of  our  Lord's  life,  death,  resurrection, 
ascension,  and  his  second  coming,  he  seemed 
always  to  be  much  ravished. 

He  would  be  frequently  reckoning  the  choice 
tokens  which  Christ  had  sent  him,  and  which 
I  remember  he  M'ould  frequently  reckon  up  ; 
1.  The  pardon  of  sin  ;  2.  A  patent  for  heaven  : 
3.  The  gift  of  the  Spirit ;  4.  The  robe  of  his 
righteousness  ;     5.   The     spoils    of    enemies  ; 

6.  The  charter  of  all  liberties  and  privileges  ; 

7.  The  guard  of  his  angels.  The  consideration 
of  this  last  he  frequently  solaced  himself  in, 
saying  to  me  often,  when  we  lived  alone  in  the 
prison,  and  divers  other  places,  "  Well,  my  dear, 
though  we  have  not  our  attendants  and  servants, 
as  the  great  ones  and  rich  of  the  world  have, 
we  have  the  blessed  angels  of  God  still  to  wait 
upon  us,  to  minister  to  us,  and  to  watch  over  us 
while  we  are  sleeping,  to  be  with  us  when 
journeying,  and  still  to  preserve  us  from  the 
rage  of  men  and  devils." 

He  was  exceedingly  affected  with  the  three 
last  chapters  of  St.  John's  gospel,  especially 
Christ's  parting  words,  and  prayer  for  his  dis- 
ciples. 

But  it  is  time  for  me  to  set  a  stop  to  my  pen. 
God  poured  into  him,  and  he  poured  out  so 
much,  that  it  was   scarcely  possible  to  retain 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  197 

the  converse  of  one  day,  without  a  constant 
register.  His  heart,  his  Hps,  his  life  were  filled 
whh  grace  ;  in  which  he  shone,  both  in  heahh 
and  sickness,  prosperity  and  adversity,  in  prison 
and  at  hberty,  in  his  own  house  and  in  the 
churches  of  Christ,  wherever  he  came :  I  never 
heard  any  that  conversed  with  him,  but  would 
acknowledge  it  was  to  their  advantage. 

At  my  husband's  first  coming  to  Taunton,  he 
was  entertained  by  Mr.  Newton  as  a  sojourner; 
and  after  he  was  ordained  in  Taunton,  in  a  pub- 
lic association-meeting,  he  administered  all  or- 
dinances jointly  with  him.  Though  he  were 
but  an  assistant,  Mr.  Newton  would  have  it  so, 
who  dearly  loved  him,  and  highly  esteemed 
him  ;  and  seeing  him  restless  in  his  spirit,  and 
putting  himself  to  many  tedious  journeys  to  visit 
me,  (as  he  did  once  a  fortnight  twenty-five 
miles,)  he  persuaded  him  to  marry,  contrary  to 
our  purpose,  we  resolving  to  have  lived  much 
longer  single.  The  4th  of  October,  1655,  after 
a  year  and  two  months'  acquaintance,  our  mar- 
riage was  celebrated. 

We  lived  together  with  Mr.  Newton  nearly 
two  years,  where  we  were  most  courteously 
entertained  :  then  hoping  to  be  more  useful  in 
our  station,  we  took  a  house;  and  1  having  been 
always  bred  to  work,  undertook  to  teach  a 
school,  and  had  many  boarders  and  scholars, 
our  family  being  seldom  less  than  twenty,  and 
many  times  thirty;  my  school  usually  consisting 
of  fifty  or  sixty  children  of  the  town  and  other 
places.    The  Lord  was  pleased  to  bless  us  ex- 


198  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

ceedingly  in  our  endeavours ;  so  that  many  were 
converted  in  a  few  years,  that  were  before 
strangers  to  God,  All  our  scholars  called  him 
"  father :"  and  indeed  he  had  far  more  care  of 
them  than  most  of  their  natural  parents,  and  was 
most  tenderly  affectionate  to  them,  especially  to 
their  souls. 

His  course  in  his  family  was  prayer,  and 
reading  the  Scriptures,  and  singing,  twice  a  day, 
except  when  he  catechised,  which  was  con- 
stantly once,  if  not  twice,  a  week.  Of  every 
chapter  that  was  read  he  expected  an  account, 
and  of  every  sermon,  either  to  himself  or  me. 
He  dealt  with  them  and  his  servants  frequently 
together,  and  apart,  about  their  spiritual  states, 
pressing  them  to  all  iheir  duties,  both  of  the 
first  and  second  table,  and  calling  them  strictly 
to  account,  whether  they  did  not  omit  them. 
He  also  gave  them  books  suitable  to  their  capa- 
cities and  condition,  which  they  gave  a  weekly 
account  of  to  him  or  me;  but  too  often  by  public 
work  was  he  diverted,  as  I  am  apt  to  think,  who 
knew  not  so  well  what  was  to  be  preferred. 

His  Lord's-days'  work  was  great ;  for  though 
he  preached  but  once  in  his  own  place,  yet  he 
was  either  desired  by  some  of  his  brethren  to 
supply  theirs  on  any  exigency,  or  would  go 
where  there  was  no  minister;  and  so  was  forced 
often  to  leave  his  family  to  me,  to  my  great  grief 
and  loss.  In  his  repetitions  in  public,  as  well 
as  catechising,  his  own  family  came  all  in  their 
turns,  to  answer  in  the  congregation,  both  scho- 
lars and  servants. 


LIFE   OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  199 

When  I  have  pleaded  with  him  for  more  of 
his  lime  with  myself  and  family,  he  would  an- 
swer me,  that  his  ministerial  work  would  not 
permit  him  to  be  so  constant  as  he  wouhl ;  for 
if  he  had  ten  bodies  and  souls,  he  could  employ 
them  all,  in  and  about  Taunton  :  and  would  say, 
"  Ah,  my  dear  !  I  know  thy  soul  is  safe.  But 
how  many  that  are  perishing  have  I  to  look 
after !   O  that  I  could  do  more  for  them !" 

He  was  a  holy,  heavenly,  tenderly  affection- 
ate husband;  and  I  know  of  nothing  that  I  could 
complain  of,  but  that  he  was  so  taken  up  that  I 
could  have  but  very  little  converse  with  him. 

His  love  was  expressed  to  me,  in  his  great 
care  for  me,  both  sick  and  well ;  in  his  provi- 
sion for  me;  in  his  delight  in  my  company; 
saying  often  that  he  could  not  bear  to  be  from 
me,  but  when  he  was  with  God,  or  employed 
for  him  ;  and  that  often  it  was  hard  for  him  to 
deny  himself  to  be  so  long  absent.  It  was  irk- 
some to  him  to  make  a  meal  without  me  ;  nor 
would  he  scarcely  manage  any  affair  without 
conversing  with  me  ;  concealing  nothing  from 
me  that  was  fit  for  me  to  know:  being  far  from 
the  temper  of  those  husbands  who  hide  all  their 
concerns  from  their  wives;  which  he  could  not 
endure  to  hear  of,  especially  in  good  men. 

He  wa.s  a  faithful  reprover  of  any  thing  he 
saw  amiss  iw  me,  which  I  took  as  a  great  evi- 
dence of  his  good  will  to  my  soul ;  and  if  in  any 
thing  he  gave  me  offence,  which  was  but  seldom, 
so  far  would  he  deny  himself  as  to  acknowledge 
it,  and  desire  me  to  pass  it  by,  professing  to  me 


200  LIFE   OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

he  could  never  rest  till  he  had  done  so;  and  the 
like  I  was  ready  to  do  to  him,  as  there  was  far 
more  reason ;  by  which  course,  if  any  difference 
did  arise,  it  was  soon  over  with  us. 

He  was  a  very  tender  master  to  his  servants, 
every  way  expressing  it  to  their  souls  and  bodies, 
giving  them  that  encouragement  in  their  places 
which  they  could  desire  ;  expecting  from  his 
whole  family  that  respect  and  obedience  to  his 
commands  which  their  rule  required;  reproving 
ihem  that  were  careless  and  negligent  in  ob- 
serving them. 

He  was  frequent  in  keeping  solemn  days  of 
humiliation,  especially  against  a  sacrament. 

He  was  a  very  strict  observer  of  the  Sabbath, 
ihe  duties  of  which  he  performed  with  such  joy 
and  alacrity  of  spirit  that  it  was  most  pleasant  to 
join  with  him,  both  in  pubhc  and  in  the  family, 
when  we  could  enjoy  him.  And  this  he  much 
pressed  ujyon  Christians,  to  spend  their  Sabbaths 
more  in  praises  and  thanksgivings,  as  days  of 
holy  rejoicing  in  cur  Redeemer. 

All  the  time  of  his  health,  he  rose  constantly 
at  or  before  four  o'clock ;  and  on  the  Sabbaths 
sooner,  if  he  awoke.  He  would  be  much  troubled 
if  he  heard  any  smiths  or  shoemakers,  or  such 
tradesmeii,  at  work  at  their  trades,  before  he 
was  in  his  duties  with  God  ;  saying  to  me  often, 
"  O  how  this  noise  shames  me !  Doth  not  my 
Master  deserve  more  than  theirs?"  From  four 
till  eight,  he  spent  in  prayer,  holy  contempla- 
tion, and  singing  o(  psalms,  which  he  much  de- 
hghted  in,  and  daily  practised  alone,  as  well  as 


LIFE   OF   JOSEPH   ALLEINE.  201 

in  his  family.  Having  refreshed  himself  about 
half  an  hour,  he  would  call  to  family  duties,  and 
after  that  to  his  studies,  till  eleven  or  twelve 
o'clock,  arranging  his  work  for  every  hour  in 
the  day.  Having  refreshed  himself  a  while 
after  dinner,  he  used  to  retire  to  his  study  to 
prayer,  and  so  go  abroad  among  the  families  he 
was  to  visit,  to  whom  he  always  sent  the  day 
before  ;  going  out  about  two  o'clock,  and  seldom 
returning  till  seven  in  the  evening,  sometimes 
later.  He  would  often  say,  *'  Give  me  a  Chris- 
tian that  counts  his  time  more  precious  than 
gold."  His  work  in  his  public  ministry  in 
Taunton  being  to  preach  but  once  on  a  Sab- 
bath, and  catechise,  he  devoted  himself  much 
to  private  work,  and  also  catechised  once  a 
week  in  public  besides,  and  repeated  the  ser- 
mon he  preached  on  the  Sabbath  day  on  Tues- 
day in  the  evening. 

He  found  much  difficulty  in  going  from  house 
to  house,  because  it  had  not  been  practised  a 
long  time  by  any  minister  in  Taunton,  nor  by 
any  others  of  his  brethren  ;  and  he  being  but  a 
young  man,  to  be  looked  upon  as  singular,  was 
that  which  called  for  much  self-denial,  which 
the  Lord  enabled  him  to  exercise.  For  after 
he  had  preached  in  public  the  ministers'  duty 
to  their  people,  and  theirs  to  receive  them,  when 
they  came  to  them  for  their  spiritual  advantage, 
he  set  speedily  upon  the  work. 

In  this  work  his  course  was,  to  draw  a  cata- 
logue of  the  names  of  the  families  in  each  street, 
and  to  send  a  day  or  two  before  he  intended  to 


202  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH   ALLEINE. 

visit  them,  that  they  might  not  be  absent,  and 
that  he  might  understand  who  was  willing  to 
receive  him.  Those  that  sent  slight  excuses, 
or  obstinately  refused  his  message,  he  would 
notwithstanding  visit ;  and  if  (as  some  would) 
they  shut  their  doors  against  him,  he  would 
speak  some  few  affectionate  words  to  them  ;  or, 
if  he  saw  cause,  denounce  the  threatenings  of 
God  against  them  that  despise  his  ministers, 
and  so  departed.  Afterward  he  would  send 
affectionate  letters  to  them,  so  full  of  love,  and 
expressions  of  his  great  desires  to  do  their  souls 
good,  as  overcame  their  hearts ;  and  many  of 
them  afterward  readily  received  him  into  their 
houses.  Herein  was  his  compassion  showed 
to  all  sorts,  both  poor  and  rich,  not  disdaining 
to  go  into  such  houses  among  the  poor  as 
were  often  very  offensive  to  him  to  sit  in,  he 
being  of  an  exact  and  curious  temper:  yet  would 
he  with  joy  and  freedom  deny  himself  for  the 
good  of  their  souls,  and  that  he  might  fulfil  his 
ministry  among  those  of  whom  the  Lord  had 
given  him  the  oversight. 

I  perceiving  this  work,  with  what  he  did 
otherwise,  to  be  too  hard  for  him,  fearing  often 
that  he  would  bring  himself  to  distempers  and 
diseases,  as  he  did  soon  after,  besought  him  not 
to  go  so  frequently;  his  answer  would  be, 
"  What  have  I  strength  for,  but  to  spend  for 
God  ?  What  is  a  candle  for,  but  to  be  burned  ?" 
And  he  w^ould  say  that  I  was  like  Peter,  still 
crying,  O  spare  thyself!  '^  But  I  must  not 
hearken  to  thee,  no  more  than  my  Master  did  to 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  203 

him."  Though  his  labours  were  so  abundant, 
I  never  knew  him,  for  nine  years  together, 
under  the  least  illness  one  quarter  of  an  hour. 

He  was  exceedingly  (emperate  in  his  diet. 
Though  he  had  a  very  sharp  appetite,  yet  did  he 
at  every  meal  deny  himself,  being  persuaded 
that  it  did  much  conduce  to  his  health.  His 
conversation  at  his  table  was  very  profitable,  and 
yet  pleasant,  never  rising  either  at  home  or 
abroad  without  saying  something  of  God,  accord- 
ing to  the  rule  he  laid  down  to  others.  He  was 
very  much  in  commending  and  admiring  the 
mercies  of  God  in  every  meal,  and  was  still  so 
pleased  with  his  provision  that  he  would  often 
say  he  fared  deliciously  ever)'  day,  and  lived  far 
better  than  the  great  ones  of  the  world,  who 
had  their  tables  far  better  furnished ;  for  he  en- 
joyed God  in  all,  and  saw  his  love  and  bounty 
in  what  he  received  at  every  meal :  so  that  he 
would  say,  "  O  wife  !  I  live  a  voluptuous  life  ; 
but,  blessed  be  God,  it  is  upon  spiritual  dainties, 
such  as  the  world  know  not  and  taste  not  of." 

He  was  much  in  minding  the  poor  that  were 
in  want  of  all  things  ;  often  wondering  that  God 
should  make  such  a  ditlereace  between  him  and 
them,  both  for  this  world  and  that  lo  come  ;  and 
his  charity  was  ever  beyond  his  estate,  as  my- 
self and  many  other  friends  conceived ;  but  he 
would  not  be  dissuaded,  always  saying  that  if 
he  were  prodigal,  it  was  for  God,  and  not  for 
himself  nor  sin. 

There  were  but  few,  if  any,  poor  families, 
especially  of  the  godly  in  Taunton,  but  ho  knew 


204  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE. 

their  necessities,  and  did  by  himself,  or  friends, 
relieve  them :  so  that  our  homes  were  seldom 
free  from  such  as  came  to  make  complaints  to 
him.  After  the  times  grew  dead  for  trade, 
many  of  our  godly  men  decaying,  he  would 
give  much  beyond  his  ability  to  recover  them. 
He  would  buy  pease  and  flitches  of  bacon,  and 
distribute  twice  a  year  in  the  cold  and  hard 
seasons.  He  kept  several  children  at  school  at 
his  own  cost ;  bought  many  lx)oks  and  catechisms, 
and  had  many  thousands  of  prayers  printed  and 
distributed  among  them.  And  after  his  brethren 
were  turned  out  he  gave  four  pounds  a  year  him- 
self to  a  public  stock  for  them  ;  by  which  he 
excited  many  others  to  do  the  same,  and  much 
more,  who  else  would  never  have  done  it. 
And  on  any  other  occasions  as  did  frequently 
fall  in,  he  would  give  even  to  the  offence  of  his 
friends  ;  so  that  many  would  grudge  in  the 
town  to  give  what  they  had  agreed  for  ;  be- 
cause he  would  give  so  much.  Besides  all 
this,  the  necessities  of  his  own  father  and  many 
other  relations  were  still  calling  upon  him,  and 
he  was  open-handed  to  them  all ;  so  that  it 
hath  been  sometimes  even  incredible  to  our- 
selves to  consider  how  much  he  did  out  of  a 
little  estate,  and  therefore  may  seem  strange  to 
others.  Moreover,  when  he  had  received  any 
more  than  ordinary  mercy  at  the  hand  of  God, 
his  manner  was  to  set  apart  some  considerable 
portion  out  of  his  estate,  and  dedicate  it  to  the 
Lord,  as  a  thank-offering,  to  be  laid  out  for  his 
glory  in  pious  and  charitable  uses. 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  205 

When  I  have  beo^ged  him  to  consider  himself 
and  me,  he  would  answer  me  that  he  was  lay- 
ing np,  and  God  would  repay  him ;  that  by 
liberal  things  he  should  stand,  when  others 
might  fall  that  censured  him  ;  that  if  he  sowed 
sparingly,  he  should  reap  so  ;  if  bountifully,  he 
should  reap  bountifully. 

And  I  must  confess  I  did  often  see  so  much 
of  God  in  his  dealings  with  us,  according  to  his 
promises,  that  I  have  been  convinced  and 
silenced ;  God  having  often  so  strangely  and 
unexpectedly  provided  for  us.  Notwithstanding 
all  that  he  had  done,  he  had  at  last  somewhat  to 
dispose  of  to  his  relations  and  to  his  brethren, 
besides  a  comfortable  provision  for  me. 

'I'hus  his  whole  life  was  a  continual  sermon, 
holding  forth  evidently  the  doctrines  he  preach- 
ed ;  humility,  self-denial,  patience,  meekness, 
contentment,  faith,  and  holy  confidence  shining 
in  him,  with  love  to  God,  and  his  church  and 
people.  And  where  he  longed  and  panted  to  be 
he  is  now,  shining  in  heaven,  singing  praises  to 
God  and  to  the  Lamb  ;  which  work  he  much 
delighted  iu  while  here  on  earth. 


206  LIFE   OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

CHAPTER  YII. 

BY   MR.    FAIRCLOUGH.   IN    WHOSE    HOUSE 
MR.   ALLEINE   LODGED. 

As  for  such  as  feared  God  already,  he  was 
still  seeking  their  edification,  and  stirring  them 
up  to  a  holy  life  ;  very  much  pressing  them  to 
intend  God  as  their  end,  and  to  do  whatever 
they  did  for  God.  When  the  week  began,  he 
would  say,  "  Another  week  is  now  before  us  : 
let  us  spend  this  week  for  God."  And  in  the 
morning  he  would  say,  "  Come  now,  let  this 
day  be  spent  for  God.  Now  let  us  live  this  one 
day  well.  Could  we  resolve  to  be  more  than 
ordinarily  circumspect,  but  for  one  day  at  a  time, 
and  so  on,  we  might  live  at  an  extraordinary 
rate."  In  the  day-time  he  would  seasonably 
ask  people,  "  How  did  you  set  out  to-day  ? 
Did  you  set  out  for  God  to  day  ?  What  were 
your  morning  thoughts  ?" 

In  the  week-time  he  would  often  ask  the  ser- 
vants for  the  heads  of  the  sermon  v/hich  they 
had  heard  on  the  Lord^s  day  before.  As  he 
walked  about  the  house,  he  would  make  some 
spiritual  use  of  whatever  occurred,  and  still  his 
lips  did  drop  like  the  honey-comb  to  all  that 
were  about  him.  Any  offices  that  were  done 
for  him  in  his  v/eakness  were  all  well  requited. 
To  give  a  few  instances  of  his  words  : — 

To  one  that  had  done  well  :  "  There  are  two 
things,"  said  he,  "  that  we  must  especially  look 
to,  after  well-doing,  and  the  special  taste  of  the 
love  of  God  :   1 .  That  we  grow  not  proud  of  it, 


LIFE  OF  JOSEPH  ALLEIXE.       207 

and  so  lose  all ;  2.  That  we  grow  not  secure, 
and  so  give  the  tempter  new  advantages." 

Speaking  of  the  vanity  of  the  world,  he  said, 
"  It  is  as  good  to  be  without  the  world,  and  to 
bear  that  state  as  beseemeth  a  Christian,  as  to 
enjoy  the  world,  though  it  were  never  so  well 
employed.  If  a  man  hath  riches,  and  layeth 
them  out  for  God,  and  for  his  servants,  yet  it  is 
as  happy  a  state  to  receive  alms  of  another,  so 
we  bear  our  poverty  aright,  and  are  cheerful  and 
thankful  in  our  low  estate.  Though  yet  it  is 
true,  that  riches  may  be  used  to  the  good  of 
others ;  and  it  is  more  honourable  to  give  than 
to  receive." 

Another  time  he  said,  '•  How  necessary  a 
duty  it  is  for  a  child  of  God  placidly  to  suit  with 
all  God's  dispensations  :  and  a  Christian  must 
not  only  quietly  submit  to  God  in  all  his  deal- 
ings, but  ever  be  best  pleased  with  what  God 
doeth,  as  knowing  that  he  is  infinitely  wise  and 
good.  O  how  unbocominfj  a  Christian  is  it  to 
do  otherwise !"  To  which  one  answering, 
"  How  short  we  ordinarily  fall  as  to  that  tem- 
per !"  he  replied,  "  We  have  much  ground  to  go 
yet,  but  so  it  nuist  be  ;  but  we  shall  never  be 
well  indeed  till  we  come  to  heaven." 

Another  time  said  he,  "  O  what  an  alteration 
will  be  shortly  made  upon  us  !  Now  we  are 
the  sons  of  God,  but  yet  it  doth  not  appear  to 
sight  what  we  shall  be.  Did  we  iinasfine  only 
that  we  shall  shine  as  the  sun  in  the  firmament, 
it  were  too  low  a  conception  of  our  blessedness 
hereafter." 


208  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

Another  morning,  as  he  was  dressing,  he 
said,  "  0  what  a  shout  will  there  be  when  Christ 
shall  come  in  his  glory !  I  hope  all  here  pre- 
sent shall  contribute  to  that  shout." 

Another  time,  "  I  bless  the  Lord,  I  delight 
in  nothing  in  this  world,  farther  than  I  see  God 
in  it." 

Another  time,  in  his  weakness,  saith  he, 
'•  There  are  three  things  which  must  be  un- 
learned, as  being  mistakes  among  men.  1.  Men 
think  that  their  happiness  lieth  in  having  the 
world,  when  it  is  much  more  in  contemning  the 
world.  2.  Men  think  that  the  greatest  content- 
ment lieth  in  having  their  own  will,  when  in- 
deed it  lieth  in  crossing,  mortifying,  and  sub- 
duing their  wills  to  the  will  of  God.  3.  Men 
think  it  their  business  and  benefit  to  seek  them- 
selves, when  indeed  it  is  the  denying  of  them- 
selves." 

Another  time  this  was  his  advice  :  "  1.  Value 
precious  time,  while  time  doth  last,  and  not 
when  it  is  irrevocably  lost.  2.  Know  the  worth 
of  things  to  come,  before  they  come  or  are  pre- 
sent ;  and  the  worth  of  things  present,  before 
they  are  past.  3.  Value  no  mercy  as  it  serveth 
to  content  the  flesh,  but  as  it  is  serviceable  for 
God  and  to  things  eternal." 

vSuch  was  his  talk  at  the  table,  where  he 
would  be  still  raised  in  gratitude  for  God's  boun- 
ty, and  used  to  eat  his  meat  with  much  cheer- 
fulness and  comfort,  as  savouring  of  a  sweeter 
good. 

He  took  one  that  was  watching  with  him  by 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  209 

the  hand,  and  said,  "  I  hope  to  pass  an  eternity 
with  thee  in  the  praises  of  our  God.  In  the 
meantime,  let  us  hve  a  hfe  of  praise  while  we 
are  here  ;  for  it  is  sweet  to  us,  and  delightful 
to  God.  It  is  harmony  in  his  ears,  our  failings 
being  pardoned ;  and  we  and  our  praise  are 
accepted  through  Christ."  Such  discourse  is, 
I  hope,  no  great  rarity  with  good  men,  in  the 
cheerfulness  of  prosperity  in  health ;  but  for  a 
man  on  the  bed  of  tedious  lunguishing  it  is 
more  rare. 

The  night  before  he  went  to  Bath,  whero  he 
died,  he  said  to  the  same  person,  "  O  how 
much  more  hath  God  done  for  you  than  for  all 
the  world  of  unconverted  persons,  in  that  he 
hath  wrought  his  image  on  your  heart,  and  will 
bring  you  at  last  to  his  celestial  glory  !  See  now 
that  you  acknowledge  tho  grace  of  God,  and 
give  him  the  praise  of  it.  For  my  part,  I  bless 
the  Lord,  I  am  full  of  his  mercy.  Goodness 
and  mercy  have  followed  me  all  my  days.  I 
am  full  and  running  over.  I  charge  you  to  walk 
cheerfully,  and  to  follow  me  with  your  praises 
while  I  am  alive." 

For  such  in  the  family  as  lay  under  doubts 
of  their  condition,  he  took  great  care  of  them, 
endeavouring  daily  to  satisfy  their  doubts  and 
answer  their  scruples  ;  and  still  would  be  inquir- 
ing, whether  they  had  yet  any  more  settlement. 
And  if  they  said  they  knew  not  how  to  try 
themselves,  he  would  say,  "  Come,  let  me  help 
you  ;"  and  so  would  take  them  aside,  and  pro- 
pound some  three  or  four  sound  marks,  by  way 
It 


210  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

of  question,  and  would  ask  them  whether  it  were 
so  with  them  or  not.  If  any  doubt  appeared  to 
remain  about  it,  he  would  not  easily  leave  them, 
till  they  were  somewhat  satisfied  at  that  time, 
and  would  bring  all  down  to  the  meanest  capa- 
city, by  putting  his  questions  several  ways. 
And  if  yet  doubts  remained,  he  would  use  all 
the  compassion  and  pitifulness  that  might  be, 
and  open  to  them  the  goodness  of  God's  nature, 
the  sufficiency  of  Christ,  and  his  readiness  to 
accept  returning  sinners ;  and,  after  long  trial 
by  fairer  means,  would  plainly  labour  to  con- 
vince them  of  the  sin  of  unbelief.  For  any  in 
the  family  that  seemed  to  stick  under  bare  con- 
victions, he  much  urged  them  to  go  on,  and 
make  a  thorough,  and  sound,  and  sure  work 
of  it. 

In  family  duties  he  seemed  more  excellent 
than  at  other  times. 

He  was  a  man  of  singular  patience  in  afflic- 
tion. Though  he  lay  under  such  weakness  for 
certain  years  as  rendered  him  almost  wholly 
unable  for  his  public  work,  and  many  times  not 
able  to  move  a  hand  or  finger,  or  hardly  any 
other  part ;  yet  some  that  have  been  much  with 
him  never  heard  him  once  complain  of  one 
pain  or  other,  unless  any  asked  him,  and  then  he 
would  always  make  the  least  of  it.  When  he 
lay  many  nights,  and  never  took  the  least  rest 
by  sleep,  he  would  never  show  the  least  impa- 
tience, nor  so  much  as  say  that  he  had  not 
slept,  unless  it  were  asked  him.  And  still 
would  he  justify   and  glorify    God,    and   say, 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  211 

"  Shall  I  receive  good  at  God's  hand,  and  no 
evil  ?" 

Speaking  of  exhortations  and  reproofs,  he 
said,  "  It  is  the  safest  course,  where  it  may  be 
done,  to  take  the  opportunity,  and  not  to  suffer 
our  backward  hearts  to  cheat  us  of  the  present, 
on  pretence  of  staying  for  a  fitter  time." 

As  advice  for  profitable  discourse,  he  said, 
*'  It  is  good  for  such  Christians  as  need  it,  to 
study  beforehand  what  to  speak,  that  they  may 
always  have  something  in  readiness  to  bring 
forth  for  the  benefit  of  others,  which  will  prevent 
impertinences." 

Of  prayer  with  others  he  would  say,  "  We 
have  need  to  watch  against  confining  our 
thoughts  and  desires  to  the  cases  of  our  own 
souls,  with  the  neglect  of  those  that  join  with 
us ;  but  above  all,  with  the  neglect  of  the 
miserable  world,  and  of  the  church  of  Christ." 
For  though  indeed  hypocrites  use  to  indite  al- 
most all  their  public  prayers  from  the  supposed 
case  of  those  that  are  present,  and  meddle  but 
little  with  their  own  sins  and  wants,  unless  in 
formality,  yet  sincere  Christians  are  at  first  too 
apt  to  dwell  upon  their  own  cases  almost  alone  ; 
insomuch  that  they  have  need  to  be  called  out- 
ward ;  and  as  they  grow  in  love,  they  w  ill  grow 
enlarged  in  the  case  of  their  brethren,  but  espe- 
cially of  public  and  universal  consequence. 


213  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 


CHAPTER  Vlir. 

WRITTEN   BY   OXE   OF   HIS   FAMILIAR 
ACQ.UAIXTAXCE. 

HIS    PERSONAL    CHARACTER,    STATURE,    AND 
COMPLEXION. 

As  to  his  personal  bodily  characler,  he  was 
of  stature  tall  and  erect ;  of  complexion  clear 
and  lovely,  his  countenance  being  the  seat  of 
cheerfulness,  gravity,  and  love.  His  sprightly 
and  serene  countenance  was  the  index  of  an 
active  and  harmonious  soul.  Anger,  as  it  sel- 
dom beclouded,  so  it  became  not,  that  face 
which  was  most  incapable  of  sour  impressions. 
It  was  forced,  and  so  not  of  long  continuance ; 
for  it  never  appeared  but  upon  summons,  when 
commanded  to  interpose  itself  for  the  glory  of 
God,  and  the  honour  of  religion.  Neither  did 
his  reason  and  virtue  sooner  raise  than  lay  it 
when  the  cause  was  ceased.  He  was  angry, 
and  sinned  not,  by  being  angry  chiefly  or  only 
for  sin. 

HIS   CONSTITUTION. 

He  had  not  a  more  hale  complexion  than 
healthful  constitution,  hugely  fitted  for  the  em- 
ployment in  which  he  was  so  successful,  name- 
ly, his  ministerial  labours  and  studies.  Inso- 
much that  he  hath  often  been  heard  to  confess, 
that  he  knew  not  what  an  hour's  sickness  or 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  213 

indisposition  was  for  thirty  years  and  upward, 
even  until  after  his  first  imprisonment ;  to  which 
it  may  well  be  thousjht  that  he  owed  the  first 
and  fatal  impairs  of  his  healthful  vigour.  Since 
which  first  decay,  it  may  be  affirmed  that  con- 
trariwise for  some  years  together,  till  the  period 
of  his  life,  he  scarcely  knew  what  was  an  hour's 
health.  Most  deplorable  it  is,  that  his  great 
and  even  excessive  labours,  and  hard  durance, 
should  have  been  prodigal  of  that  strength  which 
might  perchance  have  been  hitherto  employed 
to  tiie  most  noble  purposes.  But  alas,  the  inno- 
cent flames  of  love  to  God,  and  zeal  for  his  glory, 
and  the  good  of  souls,  made  all  his  strength  a 
whole  burnt  sacrifice,  and  as  well  devoted  as  if 
sacrificed  to  the  flames  of  martyrdom. 

HIS    JUDG.MEXT. 

And  here  some  injury  would  be  done  to  his 
worthy  name,  should  his  internal  excellences, 
which  are  of  all  the  greatest,  be  wholly  forgot 
ten.  His  judgment  was  as  the  pot  of  manna, 
wherein  were  found  and  conserved  all  whole- 
some doctrines :  most  solid  and  acute  it  was. 
For  though  with  the  eye  of  his  body  he  could 
not  see  far  off,  ytt  with  the  eye  of  his  mind 
he  penetrated  far  into  the  recesses  of  difficult 
truths;  and  out  of  mental  perplexities  he  was 
wont  happily  to  extricate  himself  and  others  ; 
the  toil  of  his  intellect  herein  being  not  so  plea- 
sant as  successful.  He  was  all  judgment  in  his 
inquiries  after  truth,  and  all  aft'eclion  in  pursuing 
and  promoting  that  which  is  good. 


214  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE. 

HIS    MEMORY. 

His  memory  was  as  the  tables  of  the  cove- 
nant, God's  law  being  his  meditation  day  and 
night,  and  as  the  sacred  records  there  kept.  It 
was  a  most  faithful  and  refined  treasury,  out  of 
which  he  continually  brought  things  new  and 
old  for  the  instruction  and  consolation  of  his 
hearers.  So  tenacious  it  was,  that  it  needed 
not,  and  wholly  refused,  those  helps  by  which 
it  is  usually  fortified,  and  its  defects  supplied. 
It  knew  not  the  slavery  of  an  imposed  task ;  for 
what  had  once  engaged  his  love  was,  without 
delay  or  difficulty,  possessed  of  his  mind. 

HIS    FANCY. 

His  fancy  was  as  Aaron's  rod  budding,  ever 
producing  fresh  blossoms  of  refined  divine  wit 
and  invention.  It  was  quick  and  happy,  a  fruit- 
ful storehouse  of  hallowed  and  sublime  notions ; 
ever  pregnant,  yet  never  bringing  forth  any  other 
than  the  offspring  of  judgment  and  discretion. 
Though  it  soared  high,  yet  when  it  had  gone  to 
its  utmost  length,  it  was  checked  by  his  judg- 
ment and  humility,  lest  it  should  ascend  above 
its  height. 

HIS    WILL    AND    AFFECTIONS. 

His  will  he  had  so  long  lost  in  the  divine 
will  as  not  to  find  it,  or  to  be  troubled  with  its 
reluctances,  under  so  long  and  sad  a  series  of 
trials  and  afflictions  as  those  which  attended 
him  constantly  to  his   grave.      His   affections 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  215 

were  strong  and  fervent ;  and,  to  use  his  words, 
thev  kept  to  their  right  objects  and  tlieir  due 
bounds,  never  enkindled  but  with  a  coal  from 
the  altar ;  and  then  they  soared  to  marvellous 
heights.  He  was  indeed,  as  it  were,  all  affec- 
tion in  pursuing  and  promoting  the  grand  inte- 
rests of  religion.  The  zeal  of  God's  house  had 
consumed  him  ;  and  that  not  blind  nor  wild,  but 
well  attempered  with  light  and  heat.  What 
holy  Mr.  Herbert  said  of  himself,  that  may  be 
said  of  him,  that  his  active  soul  was  as  a  keen 
knife  in  a  thin  sheath,  ever  about  to  cut  through, 
and  take  its  flight  into  the  region  of  souls. 


HIS    GREAT    GRAVITY. 

But  to  proceed  to  some  of  his  excellent  pro- 
perties. His  gravity  appeared  to  be  true  and 
genuine,  (as  not  affected  or  morose,  not  through 
any  inability,  but  unwillingriess  to  press  his  wit 
to  the  service  of  vanity,)  resulting  from  a  mind 
ever  in  the  awe  of  God  ;  because  his  presence 
and  deportment  struck  such  an  awe  even  on  all 
with  whom  he  conversed,  and  composed  them 
to  a  true  decorum.  As  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bolton, 
when  walking  in  the  streets,  was  so  much 
clothed  with  majesty,  as  by  the  notice  of  his 
coming  in  these  words,  "  Here  comes  Mr.  Bol- 
ton," as  it  were  to  charm  them  into  order,  when 
vain  or  doing  amiss  ;  so  this  most  grave  divine, 
whensoever  he  came,  was  as  a  walking  spirit 
by  his  presence  conjuring  them  into  a  grave 
deportment.      What  the  statue  of  Sennacherib 


216  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE. 

did  speak,  that  much  more  did  this  livelv  image 
of  the  most  high  God  speak, — "  He  who  looketh 
to  me,  let  him  be  religious." 

This  his  great  gravity  was  not  only  discerned 
by  all,  but  also  more  pariicularly  and  especially 
acknowledged  and  loved  by  his  brethren  in  the 
ministry ;  for  there  being  some  matter  of  moment 
depending  among  them,  the  care  of  which  was 
to  be  devolved  on  some  one  man,  a  worthy 
divine,  far  exceeding  him  in  years,  solicited 
him  to  take  it  on  him;  who  modestly  waived  it, 
wondering  that  they  should  pitch  on  one  so 
young  and  inexperienced  as  himself  for  so  so- 
lemn an  undertaking.  The  forenamed  divine 
replied,  that  of  all  the  ministers,  his  brethren, 
whereof  many  for  age  were  his  fathers,  he  knew 
none  of  greater  gravity,  industry,  and  fitness  for 
the  management  of  that  affair  than  himself. 


KIS    AFFABILITY. 

Neither  was  he  so  immured  in  his  study  as  to 
be  averse  from  generous  and  innocent  freedom, 
and  obligingness  of  converse  ;  for  love  and  affa- 
bility were  accurately  attempered  with  his  great 
gravity.  He  became  all  things  to  all  men,  that 
he  might  gain  the  more ;  and  so  communicative, 
innocent,  and  obliging  was  ail  his  converse,  that 
he  commanded  the  admiration  of  his  friends,  and 
forced  this  acknowledgment  from  his  adversa- 
ries, both  profane,  atheistical,  and  sectarian, 
that  if  there  were  ever  a  good  man  among  the 
nonconformists,  Mr.  Alleine  was  he. 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  217 

HIS    CHARITY. 

Communicative  I  say  he  was,  both  of  spirit- 
ual, and  also  temporal  goocl  things,  according 
to  and  even  beyond  his  power,  both  when  he 
heard  the  loud  complaints  of  some,  and  when 
he  listened  to  the  silent  suits  of  others,  namely, 
some  modest  and  indigent  housekeepers,  who 
only  spake  by  their  real  needs,  and  entered  their 
suits  at  the  eyes  of  an  inquisitive  almoner,  more 
thai»  at  his  ears.  Of  the  good  things  pertaining 
to  this  life  he  was  often  liberal  beyond  his  mea- 
sure ;  and  of  those  pertaining  to  another  life, 
often  beyond  his  strength  :  and  by  this  constel- 
lation of  his  charity  and  aims-deeds,  he  made 
the  one  more  profitable,  and  the  other  more 
acceptable  ;  the  one  the  greater,  and  the  other 
the  happier  and  more  successful.  )3y  this  con- 
junction also,  he  approved  himself  more  perfect 
iiefore  God,  the  more  thoroughly  furnished  to 
every  good  word  and  work. 

HIS      L'TTER.\>'CE. 

His  manner  of  speech  was  free,  eloquent, 
subliiuf,  and  weighty.  Of  him  it  may  be  well 
said,  as  of  our  blessed  Saviour,  "That  all  bare 
him  \v  itness,  and  wondered  at  the  gracious 
words  which  proceeded  out  of  his  mouth."  It 
will  be  hard  to  tell  what  man  ever  spake  with 
more  holy  eloquence,  gravity,  authority,  meek- 
ness, compassion,  and  efficacy  to  souls,  than  he 
did  to  those  to  whom  in  instruction,  exhortation, 
consolation,  reprehension,  he  most  wisely,  fre- 
quently, and  successfully  applied  himself.    Few 


218  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

could  resist  or  stand  before  the  united  force  of 
his  love  and  authority  ;  being  equally  attracted 
by  the  one,  and  awed  by  the  other. 

True  it  is,  that  this  young  Timothy  (with 
whom  few  were  like-minded,  in  caring  naturally 
for  the  state  of  his  flock)  was  at  his  first  en- 
trance on  his  ministry  despised  for  his  youth, 
by  those  who  after  with  shame  confessed  their 
error,  and  deplored  their  rashness,  resolving 
after,  for  his  sake  no  more  to  judge  according 
to  appearance,  but  to  honour  for  their  work  and 
intrinsic  Avorth  those  whom  age  hath  not  made 
venerable. 

HIS    STUDIES    AND    LEARNING. 

As  it  respects  his  studies,  he  had  a  strong 
inclination  to,  and  delight  in,  the  study  of  the 
natural  and  ethnic  theology,  in  which  he  pro- 
ceeded to  a  great  acquaintance  with  the  chief 
sects  of  the  philosophers,  especially  the  Aca- 
demics and  Stoics,  of  his  insight  into  whom  he 
made  singular  use,  by  gathering  their  choicest 
flowers  to  adorn  Christianity  withal  ;  and,  in- 
deed, scarcely  did  he  preach  a  sermon  wherein 
he  did  not  select  some  excellent  passage  or 
other  out  of  these,  whereby  to  illustrate  and 
fortify  his  discourse.  And  how  well  becoming 
a  divine,  and  most  laudable,  this  his  inclination 
and  choice  was,  is  most  manifest  to  considering 
men  ;  for  hereby  he  more  confirmed  himself  in 
the  Christian  religion  (which  he  had  espoused 
with  so  much  judgment  and  zeal)  by  a  distinct 
and  certain  knowledge  of  the  highest  principles 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  219 

and  hopes  of  the  ethnic  religions,  and  by  a  sober 
comparing  of  that  with  these.  He  also  much 
delighted  in  anatomy,  in  which  he  acquired  a 
considerable  skill,  which  also  he  not  a  little  im- 
proved by  frequent  dissections.  And  in  his 
public  ministry  he  often  made  use  of  this  his 
insight  by  composing,  with  Galen,  hymns  to  the 
Creator,  Mhose  infinite  wisdom  he  was  often 
heard  to  admire,  in  the  contrivance  of  man's 
outward  frame,  and  in  the  rare  contexture,  de- 
pendance,  and  use  of  all,  even  the  minutest 
parts,  in  the  excellent  fabric  of  man's  body.  As 
to  his  skill  in  the  langfuaofos,  it  was  not  con- 
temptible,  especially  in  those  three  which 
Christ  sanctified  upon  the  cross. 

HIS    MODERATION    AXD   HUMILITY. 

He  managed  his  dissent  in  judgment  from 
others  with  great  charity,  humility,  and  modera- 
tion, most  strictly  observing  what  he  still  ex- 
horted his  flock  unto,  namely,  "to  speak  evil  of 
no  man,  much  less  of  dignities."  When  his 
judgment  was  at  any  time  desired  concerning 
any  sermon  which  he  had  heard,  and  any  mi- 
nister, (conformist  or  nonconformist,)  though 
weak  and  mean,  he  would  yet  ever  find  matter 
of  commendation,  none  of  dispraise  ;  judging  the 
niinislor  and  his  discourse  at  least  to  be  honest, 
and  of  good  intent.  He  abhorred  to  intrench 
on  the  divine  prerogative,  in  judging  of  men's 
states  before  the  time  ;  and  in  condemning 
men's  actions  at  all  adventures,  without  consi- 
dering their  lessening  or  altering  circumstances. 


220  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

And  as  he  liked  to  judge  no  man  beyond  his 
sphere,  and  speak  evil  of  no  man,  so  in  his  life 
did  he  reap  as  great  and  visible  reward  as  any 
for  this  most  Christian  practice  ;  for  the  tongues 
even  of  all  did  pay  tribute  to  his  good  name, 
which  was  a  thing  so  entire  and  sacred  that 
scarce  a  Rabshakeh  or  Shimei  could  find  a 
passage  by  which  to  invade  it.  His  good  name 
was  as  a  precious  box  of  ointment,  by  his  death 
especially  broken  and  poured  forth,  the  delicious 
scent  whereof  all  those  hearts  with  great  delight 
retain  which  were  opened  to  his  heavenly  doc- 
trine ;  and  not  only  so,  but  they  will  perpetuate 
it  while  they  have  children's  children  by  whom 
to  eternize  his  memory. 

HIS    PRACTICE    AS    TO    CHURCH   COMMUNION. 

As  it  respects  his  practice  and  moderate 
opinion  in  point  of  church  communion,  and  his 
judgment  in  point  of  obedience  to  the  supreme 
power,  together  with  his  great  regard  to,  and 
earnest  insisting  on,  second-table  duties,  much 
may  be  said  to  his  worthy  praise.  After  his 
ejectment,  he  as  frequently  attended  on  public 
worship  as  his  opportunities  and  strength  per- 
mitted, and  often  declared  his  very  good  liking 
of  some  sermons  which  he  heard  from  the  pre- 
sent incumbent.  He  did  not  account  that  none 
could  worship  God  aright,  m^less  in  all  instan- 
ces and  smaller  circumstances  of  worship  they 
wholly  accorded  with  his  apprehensions  ;  but 
with  the  apostle  he  had  learned  to  say,  "  Not- 
withstanding every  way,  whether  in  pretence 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  221 

or  in  truth,  Christ  is  preached,  and  I  therein  do 
rejoice,  yea,  and  will  rejoice."  He  knew  of 
how  great  moment  it  was,  that  the  public  wor- 
ship of  God  should  be  maintained,  and  that  its 
assemblies  should  not  be  relinquished,  though 
some  of  its  administrations  did  not  clearly  ap- 
prove themselves  unto  him  ;  because  upon  the 
account  of  some  imperfections  and  pollutions  in 
them,  supposed  or  real,  to  withdraw  communion 
is  evidently  to  suppose  ourselves  joined  before 
our  time  to  the  heavenly  assembly  ;  or  to  have 
found  such  a  one  here  on  earth,  exempt  from  all 
mixtures  and  imperfections  of  worshippers  and 
worship.  He  abandoned  not  all  forms,  but 
their  formal  use  ;  neither  those  in  particular 
publicly  established,  (through  a  fond  prejudice 
or  partiality,  as  may  be  affirmed  of  too  many,) 
but  hath  been  heard  much  to  commend  that 
form  of  thanksgiving,  both  excellent  and  ancient, 
namely,  the  Te  Denm  ;  and  particularly  that 
sentence  in  it,  "  The  noble  army  of  martyrs 
praise  thee  ;"  which  he  was  wont  to  mention 
with  a  certain  exultation.  So  moderate  and 
calm  he  was  in  his  judgment,  that  when  the 
two  new  forms  in  the  liturgy,  on  the  horrid  de- 
collation of  King  Charles  the  First,  and  on  the 
return  of  King  Cliarles  the  Second,  were  first 
printed,  he  was  so  far  from  being  offended  with 
them,  because  they  were  forms,  or  because 
they  bore  the  stamp  of  authority,  that  he  had 
ever  resolved  to  read  them,  had  not  some  occur- 
rences, which  I  need  not  name,  prevailed  with 
him  to  forbear. 


222  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 


HIS    LOYALTY. 

It  appeared  that  he  had  a  due  sense  of  the 
grand  importance  of  the  obedience  of  subjects  to 
the  supreme  magistrate,  by  some  excellent  ser- 
mons which  he  preached  on  Romans  xiii,  1,  a 
little  before  his  ejection  ;  where  and  when  his 
judgment  was  so  strict  as  unjustly  to  offend 
some  whose  weakness  and  ignorance,  by  rea- 
son of  a  long  proscription  of  the  regal  power, 
had  made  over  scrupulous  or  erroneous.  His 
loyalty  also  to  his  prince  he  discovered  in  ob- 
serving the  injunction  of  the  wise  man,  "  Not 
to  curse  the  king,"  no  not  in  his  bedchamber 
or  retiring  rooms ;  for  he  hath  often  been  seen 
with  indignation  to  turn  from,  and  hush  into 
silence,  all  reports  or  surmises,  true  or  false, 
which  directly  or  indirectly  tended  to  detract 
and  defame  dignities,  accounting  them  no  cause 
of  withdrawing  or  lessening  our  just  honour 
and  obedience,  but  rather  of  giving  ourselves 
the  more  to  prayer  and  humiliation. 

HIS    RESPECT    TO    SECOND-TABLE   DUTIES. 

He  was  not  only  a  man  aspiring  to  the  heights, 
but  also  respecting  the  due  breadth  and  extent, 
of  religion,  being  well  advised  how  much  the 
vitals  and  honour  of  religion  in  the  world  are 
conserved  by,  and  concerned  in,  a  conscientious 
discharge  of  second-table  duties.  That  he  had 
a  deep  sense  of  the  great  advantage  or  disad- 
vantage accruing  to  religion,  by  the  strict  or 
remiss  performance  of  the  duties  of  the  second 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEI.VE.  223 

table,  and  particularly  those  of  the  fifth  command- 
ment, all  bear  him  witness  in,  that  upon  several 
texts,  for  a  long  time  together,  he  most  faithfully 
instructed  his  people  in  relative  duties,  (than 
which  none  indeed  are  more  momentous,  and 
less  observed,)  and  most  sharply  reproved  the 
guilty  for  their  failures  therein  ;  in  all  which 
relations,  their  duties,  and  defects,  he  particu- 
larly, and  with  much  zeal,  insisted.  Witness 
also  his  great  grief  and  indignation,  which  he 
frequently  conceived,  and  with  great  vehemence 
expressed,  in  lamenting  over  and  reproving 
some  professors  of  religion,  for  their  wretched 
neglect  and  breach  of  second-table  precepts  ; 
the  scandal  and  dishonour  of  which  to  religion 
and  the  religious  how  he  resented,  none  but 
God  and  his  own  soul  did  thoroughly  know. 
He  vehemently  detested  that  impious  and  hel- 
lish design  of  putting  asunder,  in  this  matter, 
what  God  hath  joined  together  ;  namely,  those 
connnands  respecting  God  and  our  neighbour ; 
both  which  he  hath  equally  appointed  to  us  as 
rules  of  direction  and  judgment.  He  was  neither 
legalist  nor  solifidian  ;  neither  ritualist  nor  en- 
thusiast ;  not  so  much  above  in  the  mount  with 
God  as  not  also  to  come  down  to  his  neighbour, 
whom  he  did  accost  as  Moses  with  both  tables 
in  his  hand,  on  which  his  life  and  doctrine  did 
constantly  and  excellently  comment. 

HIS    LABOURS    IN    THE    MINISTRY. 

As  it  respects  his  great  industry  and  happy 
labours  in  the  ministry,  together  with  his  great 


224  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH   ALLEINE. 

prudence  and  compassion,  in  applying  himself 
to  the  souls  of  his  flock,  according  to  their  most 
pressing  needs,  there  are  none  who  knew  the 
former  but  must  also  confess  and  admire  the 
latter. 

1.  His  Prude7ice  in  them. 

His  prudence  in  apportioning,  as  well  as  de- 
signing, the  most  suitable  and  seasonable  in- 
structions to  his  people,  was  most  apparent,  in 
that  he  was  still  (after  he  had  finished  a  fore- 
going text  or  discourse)  even  at  a  loss,  as  he 
hath  often  expressed  himself  to  some  of  his 
friends,  what  subject  most  advantageous  and 
seasonable  to  his  auditory  he  should  next  insist 
on ;  so  far  he  was  from  aiming  or  shooting  at 
random  in  his  divine  instructions  and  exhorta- 
tions. And  so  loath  he  was  to  labour  in  vain, 
and  to  pass  from  one  discourse  to  another,  as 
one  unconcerned  whether  he  had  sown  any 
good  seeds  or  not  in  the  hearts  of  his  hearers, 
that  in  the  close  of  his  application  on  any  text, 
(which  sometimes  he  handled  for  a  considerable 
while,)  he  ever  expressed  his  great  unwilling- 
ness to  leave  that  subject  till  he  could  have 
some  assurance  that  he  had  not  fought  in  that 
spiritual  warfare  against  sin  as  one  who  beateth 
the  air ;  when  also  he  expressed  his  great  fear 
lest  he  should,  after  all  his  most  importunate 
warnings,  leave  them  as  he  found  ihem.  And 
here  with  how  much  holy  rhetoric  did  he  fre- 
quently expostulate  the  case  with  impenitent 
sinners,  in  words  too  many  to  mention,  and  yet 


L[FE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  225 

too  weig^hty  to  be  forgotten ;  vehemently  urging 
them  to  come  to  some  good  resolve  before  he 
and  they  parted,  and  to  make  their  choice  either 
of  life  or  death. 

2.  His  Compassion  on  Souls, 
His  compassion  toward  all  that  were  com- 
mitted to  his  charge  was  most  manifest,  espe- 
cially toward  the  ignorant,  those  that  were  ont 
of  the  way,  and  those  that  did  move  heavily  mi 
in  the  way. 

(I.)  On  the  Ignorant^  in  instructing  and 
catechising  them. 
To  the  ignorant.  And  here  knowing  that 
without  knowledge  the  heart  is  not  and  cannot 
be  good  ;  and  considering  also  how  too  success- 
fully the  evil  one,  by  sowing  evil  seeds  betimes 
in  the  hearts  of  youth,  does  ever  after  defeat  the 
most  laborious  endeavours  for  their  recovery  and 
salvation,  ho  was  in  nothing  more  industrious, 
and  in  nothing  more  happy  and  successful  in 
exerting  his  industry,  than  in  an  early  sowing 
those  blessed  seeds  of  divine  knowledge  in  the 
hearts  of  all  the  youth  that  he  could  reach  in 
person  or  otherwise  ;  by  which  they  were  ex- 
ceedingly formed  to  receive  all  good  impres- 
sions. During  the  time  of  his  public  ministry 
on  every  Lord's  day  in  the  afternoon  he  con- 
stantly catechised,  before  a  great  congregation, 
the  youth  of  each  sex  by  turns,  among  whom 
were  several,  both  young  men  and  women, 
sometimes  five  or  six  of  the  chief  scholars  of 
15 


226  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH   ALLEINE. 

the  free  school,  sometimes  five  or  six  of  the 
apprentices  of  the  town,  some  of  whom,  though 
of  man's  estate,  accounted  it  not  a  disgrace  to 
learn,  (according  to  the  guise  of  this  mad  world,) 
but  to  be  ignorant.  Sometimes,  of  the  other 
sex,  five  or  six  young  gentlewomen,  who  were 
under  his  wife's  tuition,  (and  so  his  domestic 
oversight,)  kept  their  turns,  of  whom  she  had 
not  a  few,  and  those  the  daughters  of  gentle- 
men of  good  rank  far  and  near,  whose  laudable 
emulation,  and  love  to  their  father,  (as  they 
styled  him,)  and  to  the  work,  was  the  cause 
\vhy  they  were  not  so  over  bashful  as  to  de- 
cline so  advantageous  a  course ;  by  which,  to- 
gether with  domestic  instructions  and  example, 
even  all  received  a  tincture  of  piety  and  religion, 
and  many  a  thorough  impression  :  besides  these, 
several  virgins  also,  and  among  these  the  daugh- 
ters of  some  of  the  chief  magistrates  in  the  town, 
kept  their  turns.  In  this  his  course  he  drew 
out,  on  the  short  answers  in  the  Assembly's 
Catechism,  an  excellent  discourse  on  all  the 
points  of  the  Christian  theology,  which  he 
handled  successfully,  reducing  his  discourse  to 
several  heads,  which  he  also  proved  by  perti- 
nent places  of  Scripture  ;  which  done,  he  gave 
both  the  heads  and  proofs  written  at  length,  on 
a  week  day,  to  those  whom  he  designed  to 
catechise  on  the  ensuing  Lord's  day,  which, 
besides  the  short  answers  in  the  Catechism, 
and  the  annexed  proofs,  they  committed  to 
memory,  and  rendered  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
day  aforesaid.     Throughout  all  which  course 


LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  227 

he  approved  himself  to  be  a  most  substantial 
divine. 

M  either  did  his  catechistical  labours  rest 
here,  but  also  on  Thursdays  in  the  afternoon, 
as  I  remember,  he  catechised  in  the  church, 
street  by  street,  whole  families,  excepting  the 
married  or  more  aged,  in  order :  which  exer- 
cise, I  suppose,  he  designed  as  preparatory  to 
his  Lord's-day  work.  Besides  this,  on  Satur- 
days in  the  morning,  he  catechised  the  free 
school  of  that  place,  instructing  them  in  the 
points  of  Christian  doctrine,  and  excellently 
explaining  the  answers  in  the  Assembly's  Cate- 
chism, discovering  a  mine  of  knowledge  in 
them,  and  in  himself.  How  excellent  was  his 
design,  and  great  his  labour,  besides  all  this,  in 
going  from  house  to  house,  and  instructing  both 
old  and  young,  is  elsewhere  abundantly  de- 
clared. Neither  was  this  his  labour  in  vain, 
but  became  even  as  successful  as  laborious ; 
for  there  are  few  but  have  gratefully  acknow- 
ledged that  by  this  means  they  were  either  led 
into  the  knowledge,  or  induced  to  the  belief, 
choice,  and  practice  of  that  which  is  of  sove- 
reign advantage  to  them  to  this  day.  And  how 
happy  and  likely  a  course  he  took  herein  to 
advance  reiijrion  in  the  nation,  on  the  hearts 
and  lives  of  mvn  ;  and  how  far  less  successful 
and  probable  all  other  means  are,  aiming  at  this 
end,  without  this  initial  work,  it  is  left  to  all 
pious  and  considering  men  to  judge. 


228  LIFE    OF   JOSEPH   ALLEINE. 

(2.)  On  those  that  err,  hy  reproving  and  reducing 
tliem. 

He  had  not  only  compassion  over  the  igno- 
rant, but  also  over  those  who  were  out  of  the 
way:  witness  his  faithful  and  effectual  dis- 
charge of  that  great  duty  of  giving  seasonable 
reproofs,  of  which  his  great  faithfulness  there 
is  abundant  mention  elsewhere.  And  by  so 
much  the  more  did  his  excellent  discharge 
hereof  speak  forth  his  high  praise,  by  how 
much  the  more  difficult  he  ever  apprehended  it 
aright  to  apply  it.  He  hath  been  heard  often 
to  say,  that  it  was  far  more  difficult  to  him  to 
give  than  to  take  a  reproof,  considering  how 
great  wisdom,  courage,  compassion,  self-denial, 
&;c.,  is  required  in  order  to  its  right  discharge. 
And  though  he  was  so  rarely  passive,  and  often 
active  in  this  work,  yet  the  frequency  of  his 
giving  a  reproof  never  made  it  so  easy  as  to  be 
less  difficult  than  to  receive  it.  But  ever  this 
work  was  to  him,  not  only  an  act  of  the  greatest 
self-denial,  but  also  (he  result  of  a  strong  con- 
flict within,  betwixt  his  indignation  at  the  sin, 
and  compassion  on  the  sinner.  And  yet  the 
consideration  of  the  difficulty  was  not  to  him 
an  argument  to  forbear,  but  rather  a  stronger 
motive  to  undertake  it ;  who  ever  delighted  to 
converse  in,  and  conquer,  the  difficulties  of 
Christianity,  both  in  doing  and  suffering.  Small 
difficulties  here  were  not  his  match,  and  there 
were  no  noble  achievements  in  religion  to  which 
he  attained  not,  or  vigorously  applied. 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  229 

As  it  is  said  of  Themistocles,  that  famous 
Athenian  captain,  that  the  acts  of  Miltiades 
broke  his  sleep  ;  so  as  truly  may  it  be  said  of 
this  blessed  saint,  that  the  acts  and  monu- 
ments of  the  famous  worthies  mentioned  in  the 
Hebrews,  and  of  those  of  the  same  achieve- 
ments with  them  in  all  ages  of  the  world,  even 
broke  his  sleep,  by  impregnating  his  soul  with 
high  designs  of  aspiring  after  their  perfections. 
Oft  therefore  he  hath  been  heard  to  excite 
Christians  so  long  to  move  in  the  sphere  of 
difficulties,  till  the  sweet  severities  of  Chris- 
tianity, as  he  often  called  them,  were  subdued, 
and  even  made  familiar;  encouraging  them  with 
this  consideration,  that  then  they  would  highly 
approve  their  divine  love  and  sincerity,  and  con- 
ceive a  pleasure  in  those  difficult  acts,  which 
would  equal,  yea,  exceed  the  pleasure  of  their 
natural  actions. 

(3.)  On  the  Doubting j  by  resolving  and  releasing 
them. 
Neither  had  he  only  compassion  on  those 
that  were  out  of  the  way,  but  also  on  those  who 
moved  heavily  on  in  the  way.  How  he  hath 
often  raised  and  rectified  desponding  Christians, 
who  are  too  prone  to  account  doubting,  which 
is  their  sin,  to  be  their  duty  and  virtue  !  At 
once  he  hath  often  unloosened  them  from  the 
strailness  of  their  needless  fears  and  disquiets, 
and  undeceived  them  by  discovering  the  latent 
unbelief  that  lay  lurking  in  such  despondings, 
assuring  them  in  theso  words,  that,  under  a  sly 


230  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE; 

pretence  of  humility,  they  did  call  in  question 
God's  veracity. 

HIS    SINGULAR    PIETY. 

As  it  respects  his  singular  piety,  all  who 
knew  him  can  say  much,  and  yet  all  but  little, 
considering  how  much  more  hath  escaped  the 
most  tenacious  memory,  observant  eye,  and  at- 
tentive ear.  Yet  he  must  be  wretchedly  unob- 
servant who,  amid  so  many  and  great  instances 
of  it,  can  make  no  reflections. 

How  much  he  conceived  it  as  his  own  and 
others'  greatest  interest,  ornament,  and  felicity 
herein  to  excel,  will  be  manifest  by  his  exhorta- 
tion which  he  gave  to  a  young  scholar  ready  to 
depart  to  the  university,  in  words  to  this  pur- 
pose :  "  I  know  that  you  will  labour  to  excel  in 
learning;  but  be  sure  to  excel  as  in  that,  so  also 
and  especially  in  holiness,  which  will  render 
you  one  of  the  most  useful  and  amiable  crea- 
tures in  the  world.  Learning  will  render  you 
perchance  acceptable  to  men,  but  piety  both  to 
God  and  men.  By  that  you  will  shine  only  on 
earth,  to  the  clods  thereof,  and  perhaps  in  some 
obscure  corner  of  it ;  but  this  is  an  orient  pearl, 
which  will  shine  in  you  on  earth  and  in  heaven, 
both  to  God,  angels,  and  men."  How  much  he 
dwelt  on  this  exhortation,  and  these  apprehen- 
sions, will  be  evident  by  a  pious  letter  which  he 
sent  to  the  person  forenamed,  some  years  after, 
wherein  his  words  are  these :  "  O  study  God, 
and  study  yourself  closely;  and  pursue  holiness 
more  than  learning,  though  both  these  together 


LIFE    OF   JOSEPH    ALLEIN'E.  231 

make  a  happy  constellation,  and  are  like  Castor 
and  Pollux,  which,  when  they  appear  together, 
do  ever  presage  good  to  the  mariners." 

HIS    CONTEMPT    OF    THE    WORLD. 

Happy  is  the  man  that  can  but  learn  this. 
When  once  a  man  is  arrived  hereto,  he  is  above 
the  world's  reach,  and  hath  attained  to  the  true 
heroic  mind,  so  as  that  no  external  commotions 
will  be  able  to  disturb  his  tranquillity;  neither 
will  the  comforts  or  crosses  here  below  make 
any  j^reat  accession  to  or  diminution  from  the 
serenity  of  his  spirit.  And,  indeed,  nothing  was 
more  conspicuous  in  this  blessed  saint  than  that 
generous  contempt  of  the  world,  that  true  lofti- 
ness and  yet  profound  humility  of  spirit,  (of 
which  the  lessons  afore  mentioned  are  but  so 
many  instances,)  which  he  recommended  to 
others.  He  was  much  a  stranger  on  the  earth, 
like  the  kinjily  prophet ;  not  because,  with  old 
Barzillai,  he  could  not,  but  would  not,  taste  or 
comi)ly  with  its  pleasures  and  delights  ;  but  he 
was  ciiielly  induced,  liy  a  forced  exilement  from 
his  desired  and  delectable  habitation,  to  think 
on  his  state  of  banishment  from  his  heavenly 
country  while  here  militant  upon  earth,  and  to 
solace  his  thoughts  under  so  great  a  grievance 
by  such  divine  considerations  as  those  which 
ho  mentions  in  the  following  words  of  his  fore- 
named  letter : — "  That  is  worthy  of  a  saint  in- 
deed, to  account  liimself  always  in  a  state  of 
banishment  while  in  the  state  of  mortality,  hke 
the  worthies  that  sojourned  even  in  the  land  of 


232  LIFE   OF   JOSEPH    ALLEINK. 

promise,  as  in  a  strange  country.  Such  a  so- 
journer I  wish  both  myself  and  you  to  be  ;  and 
may  the  moveableness  of  our  present  state  fix  our 
desires  upon  that  kingdom  which  shall  never  be 
shaken !'' 

HIS    UNIVERSAL   AND   UNIFORM    OBEDIENCE. 

He  declared  his  piety  to  be  genuine  and  ex- 
cellent by  its  vmiversal  regard  and  extent,  as  to 
all  God's  commands,  so  to  all  man's  converses 
and  employments  :  witness  his  earnest  and  fre- 
quent exhortations,  whereby  he  daily  called 
upon  his  people  to  a  constant  uniform  care  over 
their  hearts  and  ways.  Nothing  did  he  more 
passionately  dt-hoit  them  from,  than  from  that 
undoing  fraud  unto  their  souls,  namely,  con- 
lining  their  religion  to  their  closets,  upon  the 
supposal  that  in  so  doing  they  had  there  put  in 
sufficient  security  for  their  after  conversation, 
and  had  bidden  fair  for  the  divine  favour ;  as 
if  religion  had  taught  men  only  to  kneel,  and 
not  how  to  work  ami  walk  ;  as  if  it  were  soli- 
tary or  deformed,  loving  only  to  move  in  the 
private  path  and  narrow  circle  of  our  morning 
or  evening  devotions,  and  so  ever  before  and 
after  to  appear  least  in  sight ;  or  as  if  it  were  a 
fury,  and  so  to  be  limited,  and  not  to  be  intrust- 
ed with  the  univer.sal  conduct  of  our  lives  and 
actions.  For  many  there  are  who  think  fit 
rather  to  make  religion  their  vassal  than  undi- 
vided companion ;  to  command  it,  rather  than  it 
should  command  them ;  and  therefore  they  make 
it  to  keep  its  tinies  and  places,  its  postures  and 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINK.  233 

due  distance,  and  think  not  good  that  it  beloivg 
to  their  company,  or  appear  in  their  words  or 
actions,  unless  when  it  may  serve  the  uses  of  a 
cloak  and  cover  of  hypocrisy  and  iniquity. 

HIS    CAHE    OF    HIS    THOLGHTS    AND    ENDS. 

These  his  forementioned  momentous  exhort- 
ations, attended  with  most  excellent  motives, 
were  desigDed  chiefly  to  direct  them  how  well 
to  begin  and  end  the  day  in  the  fear,  and  as 
in  the  presence,  of  God,  by  hallowing  their 
thoughts,  and  (as  his  words  were)  setting  their 
ends  aright  in  the  moniing,  (then  making  their 
resolves,  and  piously  forecasting  the  work  of 
the  day  followincf.)  and  by  an  impartial  survey 
and  examination,  in  the  evening,  of  their  com- 
pliance or  noncompliance  with  their  foregoing 
prescriptions  unto  themselves,  whether  they  ob- 
tained their  designs  and  ends,  and  how  they 
acquitted  themselves  in  the  day  foregoing. 

Thus,  by  pointing  at  the  two  extremes  in  each 
day,  he  happily  secured  the  middle.  He  tacitly 
convinced  them  by  his  own  example  and  great 
growth  in  piety  hereby,  and  expressly  by  many 
other  eminent  instances,  how  advantageous  a 
course  he  had  recommended  to  them.  To  this 
end  he  much  applauded  those  two  no  less  ex- 
cellent than  common  books,  the  "  Practice  of 
Piety,"  and  "  Scudder's  Daily  Walk."  By  this 
course  he  had  tauglit  himself  and  others,  as  by 
constant  though  sjnall  gains,  \o  arrive  to  great 
attainments  in  Christianity,  by  constant  and 
short  accounts  the  more  accurately  to  know  the 


234  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE. 

State  of  their  souls,  and  the  more  easily  to  dis- 
cern their  progress  or  declinings  ;  so  as  the 
more  to  rejoice  in  and  promote  the  one,  and 
the  sooner  to  put  limits  to  and  redress  the  other. 
Also  he  much  inculcated  on  each  Christian  that 
important  duty  of  foreappointing  and  fixing  his 
ends,  not  only  in  the  general,  but  as  much  as 
might  be  particularly  and  explicitly  before  each 
action  of  the  day,  but  especially  each  solemn 
action,  revolving  and  conceiving  such  a  thought 
and  resolve  as  this  in  his  mind  : — "  This  or  this 
will  I  do  for  God,*'  &c.  By  which  heedful 
course,  he  assured  the  observer,  that  he  would 
hallow  all  his  actions,  and  reap  this  treble  ad- 
vantage, (to  say  no  more,)  both  of  espousing  the 
divine  direction  and  blessing,  and  of  obtaining 
a  surer  testimony  of  his  sincerity,  and  also  a 
stronger  motive  to  diligence,  and  an  awful  cir- 
cumspection in  the  right  discharge  of  what  he 
undertook.  In  compliance  with  this  his  excel- 
lent exhortation  to  others,  he  knew  not  a  day 
wherein  he  arose  without  some  heavenly  design 
of  promoting  God's  glory  and  the  good  of  souls, 
accounting  it  a  shame  that  the  covetous  should 
arise  v/ith  such  anxious  projects  of  compassing 
his  desired  wealth,  the  ambitious  his  airy  honours 
and  grandeur,  the  voluptuous  his  vain  pleasures; 
and  that  the  religious,  who  have  so  glorious  a 
prize  and  trophies  before  their  eyes,  should  be 
men  of  no  projects  or  designs.  If  of  any,  it 
may  be  affirmed  of  him,  that  according  to  his 
frequent  and  vehement  exhortation  thereunto, 
he  made  religion  his  business :  which  worthy 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  235 

advice,  in  the  same  words,  he  did  so  often  in- 
culcate, that  a  t^entleinan  meeting  a  plain  honest 
countryman,  and  discoursing  of  Mr.  Alleine, 
cavilled  at  this  passage  which  he  had  often  heard 
from  him.  as  appearing  unto  him  absurd  and  un- 
intelligible, not  knowing  how  any  thing  (as  he 
said)  could  be  called  a  man's  business,  unless 
that  which  is  secular :  so  foolishly  ignorant  of 
the  just  interest  and  power  of  religion  is  an  un- 
hallowed heart,  and  so  apt  to  quarre^l  with  that 
wholesome  advice,  and  loath  to  be  in  earnest 
in  any  thing,  unless  in  the  pursuit  of  vanity  or 
vice. 

HIS   DELIGHT   IS   MEDITATION. 

Neither  did  the  frequent  and  faithful  perform- 
ance of  the  two  great  difficulties  of  Christianity, 
namely,  reproof  and  self-examination,  (consist- 
ing of  so  many  complicated  self-denials,)  exclu- 
sively proclaim  and  improve  his  great  piety, 
but  also  his  great  acquaintance  with  the  delight- 
some work  of  heavenly  meditation.  A  speci- 
men of  his  protilablo  management  of  this  work, 
and  his  srreal  heights  herein,  he  often  gave  in 
some  of  his  most  excellent  devotional  and  con- 
templative discourses,  both  dropped  from  his 
mouth  and  committed  to  writing.  And  as  was 
his  delight,  so  were  his  converses  with  those 
authors  who  increased  his  contemplative  plea- 
sure ;  but  particularly  he  delighted  in  Mr.  Bax- 
ter's platform  of  meditation  on  the  heavenly  feli- 
city, in  the  close  of  his  Saint's  Everlasting 
Rest  ;  a  great  part  whereof  he  so  digested  as 


236  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

often  to  cite  it  with  pleastjre,  prefacing  his  cita- 
tions with  these  words  :  "  ]\Iost  divinely  saith 
that  man  of  God,  holy  Mr.  Baxter,''  &e.  And 
indeed  had  not  his  zeal  for  God's  glory,  and  the 
salvation  of  souk,  engaged  him  so  much  to  an 
active  life,  he  could  have  even  lived  and  died 
wholly  in  divine  contemplation  and  adoration  ; 
so  much  did  he  delight  to  shrink  within  himself, 
and  to  abandon  the  view  of  the  desperate  ad- 
ventures and  antic  motions  of  a  mad  world,  that 
so  being  shut  to  these,  he  might  only  open  his 
soul  to  God  and  glory,  displaying  it  to  the  glori- 
ous beams  of  the  Sun  of  righteousness.  There- 
fore did  he  often  delight  in  his  devotions  to  con- 
verse with  the  fowls  of  the  air  and  the  beasts 
of  the  field,  since  these  were  more  innocent  and 
less  degenerate  than  man. 

With  streams  and  plants  did  he  delight  to 
walk  ;  and  ail  these  did  utter  to  bis  attentive 
ear  the  praise  and  knowledge  of  his  Creator ; 
and  in  his  unsettled  sojournings  from  place  to 
place  he  did  often  (to  use  his  own  words)  look 
back  with  sweetness  and  great  content  on  the 
places  of  his  former  pleasant  retirements,  set- 
ting, as  it  were,  a  mark  upon  those  which  had 
marveliousl}'  pleased  him  in  his  solitudes,  by 
administering  to  his  contemplative  delight. 

HIS   DELIGHT   IN    PRAISING. 

His  gTeat  perfection  in  holiness  was  mani- 
fest, in  that  he  loved  so  much,  and  Hved  a  life 
of  praise  and  thanksgiving.  Being  arrived  at 
some  perfection »  he  desired  and  designed  to  an- 


LIKE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  237 

tedate  the  work  and  son^s  of  spirits  made  per- 
fect. Thus  David  much  proclaimed  his  per- 
fection in  piety,  by  his  great  heights  in  this 
heavenly  employment.  And  it  is  evident  that 
saints  most  devoted  to  this  heavenly  repast  are 
most  perfect ;  because  the  more  men  adore 
and  praise,  the  less  they  want ;  (for  sad  and 
constant  complaints,  and  pensive  thoughts, 
are  the  attendants  of  great  wants  ;)  and 
the  less  men  want,  the  more  is  their  per- 
fection. His  exhortations  to  Christians  were 
frequently  designed  to  raise  them  to  that  sub- 
lime life  of  praise  and  thanksgiving.  Often 
hath  he  reproved  Christians,  charging  them  with 
the  greatest  folly  and  ingratitude  in  so  much 
neglecting  this  so  pleasing  and  profitable  duty, 
and  in  using  it  so  little  in  their  religious  exer- 
cises. He  much  condemned  them  for  that  too 
general  practice  in  thrusting  so  large  a  part  of 
their  devotions  into  so  narrow  a  room  as  only 
the  close  of  their  prayers :  especially  did  he 
excite  Christians  to  this  duty  on  the  Lord's 
day,  as  the  most  proper  work  for  so  divine  a 
festival  :  shaming  them  with  the  excellent  ex- 
ample of  the  primitive  Ciiristians,  who  welcom- 
ed in  the  sun  that  brought  so  glorious  a  day  as 
the  Christian  Sabbath,  with  their  heavenly 
hymns  to  their  Creator  and  Redeemer  :  and  re- 
proving them  for  so  little  considering  and 
observing  the  proper  end  of  its  institution.  But 
in  respect  to  his  own  practice,  a  great,  yea,  and 
sometimes  the  greatest  part  of  his  prayer  was 
thanksgiving ;     and   indeed  he    was    never   so 


238  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

much  in  his  element,  either  in  prayer  or  in 
preachino-,  as  Avhen  he  was  extolling  and  adoring 
the  love  of  Christ,  and  marvelling  at  God's  in- 
finite goodness  in  the  gift  of  his  Son  our  Sa- 
viour. 

Neither  did  he  so  gaze  upon  and  adore 
Christ,  his  Redeemer,  and  his  redemption,  as  to 
forget  to  sound  forth  the  praises  of  God  the 
Creator  ;  for  often  he  hath  been  heard,  with 
admiration  and  praise,  to  take  notice  of  the 
divine  power  and  wisdom  in  the  works  of 
creation  ;  and  therefore  in  the  open  air,  in  the 
private  retirement  of  some  field  or  wood,  he  de- 
lighted to  address  himself  to  God  in  praise, 
that  his  eyes  might  affect  his  heart  and  awake 
his  glory.  And  here  often  he  hath  been  heard 
to  say,  that  "  man  was  the  tongue  of  the  whole 
creation,  appointed  as  the  creatures'  interpreter, 
to  speak  forth  the  praises  which  they  but 
silently  intimate." 

He  much  delighted  in  vocal  music,  and  es- 
pecially in  singing  psalms  and  hymns  ;  particu- 
larly Mr.  Barton's  :  witness  his  constant  prac- 
tice after  dinner  elsewhere  related.  In  him  it 
may  be  said,  in  as  high  a  degree  as  of  most  saints 
on  earth,  that  each  thought  to  him  was  a  prayer, 
each  prayer  a  song,  each  day  a  Sabbath,  each 
meal  a  sacrament,  a  foretaste  of  that  eternal  re- 
past to  which  he  hath  now  arrived. 

HIS    REDEMPTION    OF   TIME. 

That  he  might  effect  all  the  excellent  purpo- 
ses of  a  holy  life,  he  set  a  high  value  on  time, 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    AI.LEIXE.  239^ 

and  did  with  so  wise  and  holy  forecast  each 
day  redeem  and  fill  it  up,  that  he  did  not  only 
do  nothing,  hut  also  not  little,  though  in  a  short 
time.  All  companies  heard  him  proclaim  the 
price  of  time  ;  and  how  excellently  and  advan- 
tageously he  did  it  in  public  before  his  ejection, 
in  several  most  useful  sermons  on  Ephesians  v, 
16,  many  that  heard  him  to  this  day,  to  their 
great  comfort  and  profit,  remember.  xVnd  the 
more  remarkable  was  this  his  holy  thrift,  because 
prophetical  of  his  short  abode  here  on  earth. 

His  diligence  and  holiness  in  this  his  sphere 
of  action  were  a  presage  of  his  speedy  transla- 
tion, as  with  Enoch,  to  the  sphere  of  vision  and 
fruition,  for  a  reward  of  his  singular  piety  ;  it 
being  not  probable  that  he  who  made  so  great 
a  haste  to  despatch  his  heavenly  work  should 
be  long  without  his  desired  recompense. 


CHAPTER  X. 

BY    HIS    REVEREND   AND    INTIMATE    FRIEND 
MR.    RICHARD    FAIRCLOL'GH. 

He  was  a  person  with  whom  for  many  years 
I  was  well  acquainted ;  and  the  more  I  knew 
him,  the  more  I  loved  and  admired  the  rich  and 
exceeding  grace  of  God  in  him.  I  looked  on 
him  as  one  of  the  most  elevated,  refined,  choice 
saints  that  I  ever  knew,  or  expect,  while  I  live, 
to  know  ;  and  that  because,  among  others,  I  ob- 
served these  things  of  him  : — 


240  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

1.  A  most  sincere,  pure,  and  absolute  conse- 
cration of  himself  to  God  in  Christ  Jesus.  His 
soul  had  first  practised  the  covenant-dedication 
which  his  hand  afterward  prescribed  as  a  pat- 
tern to  others  in  his  father-in-law's  book. 

There  seemed  no  sinister  end,  or  false  aflec- 
tion,  to  move  or  sway  him  in  his  way;  but  the 
good  pleasure  of  the  Lord,  the  edification  of  his 
church,  and  the  salvation  of  souls,  were  the  only 
marks  his  eye  seemed  at  all  to  regard  in  his 
designs  and  acts.  I  know  no  other  man's  heart; 
but  thus  he  appeared  to  my  most  attentive  ob- 
servation ;  and  so  I  fully  believe  concerning  him, 
as  much  as  of  any  person  I  ever  saw. 

2.  In  this  his  dedication  to  God,  he  was  car- 
ried with  the  highest  and  purest  flame  of  divine 
love  that  ever  I  observed  in  any;  and  that  love 
arising  from  a  clear  vision  of  the  beauty  of  divine 
perfection,  especially  his  gospel  love;  the  sight 
of  which  beauty  and  excellence  seemed  per- 
petually to  possess  and  ravish  his  soul.  This 
love  seemed  wholly  separated  from  all  that  car- 
nal heat  that  would  carry  him  into  fantastic  or 
indecent  expressions  ;  but  his  mind  seemed  to 
be  always  ascending  with  its  might  in  the  great- 
est calmness  and  satisfaction.  Thus  have  I  oft 
observed  him  in  frequent  and  silent  elevation 
of  heart,  manifested  by  the  most  genuine  and 
private  lifting  up  of  his  eyes,  and  joined  with 
the  sweetest  smile  of  his  countenance,  when,  I 
am  confident,  he  little  thought  of  being  seen  by 
any.  Thus  have  I  oft  heard  him  flovv'  in  prayer 
and  discaurse,  with  the  clearest  conviction,  and 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEIXE.  241 

dearest  taste  of  divine  excellence  and  good- 
ness ;  and  the  fullest,  highest,  and  most  pleased 
expression  of  his  being  overcome  by  it,  and 
giving  up  his  all  in  esteem  to  it.  But  this  love, 
in  the  greatest  demonstration,  appeared  by  his 
perpetual  and  insatiable  spending  of  his  whole 
self  for  the  glory  of  God,  the  good  of  the  church, 
and  the  salvation  of  souls.  His  head  was  ever 
contriving,  his  tongue  pressing,  and  his  whole 
man  actinsr,  some  design  for  these.  So  he  lived, 
and  so  he  died.  He  laboured  and  suffered  him- 
self into  the  maladies  which  ended  him  :  and 
when  he  was  at  Bath,  like  a  perfiect  skeleton, 
and  could  move  neither  hand  nor  foot,  when  his 
physicians  had  forbidden  him  all  preaching,  and 
dissuaded  him  from  vocal  praying,  (as  being 
above  his  strength,)  yet  then  would  he  almost 
daily  be  carried  in  his  bath-chair  to  the  alms- 
houses, and  little  children's  schools,  and  there 
give  them  catechisms,  teach  them  the  meaning 
of  them,  and  call  them  to  an  account,  how  they 
remembered  and  understood.  And  he  died  de- 
signing a  way  how  every  poor  child  in  Somer- 
setshire might  have,  learn,  and  be  instructed  in, 
the  Assembly's  Catechism  ;  yea,  and  at  the  ex- 
pression of  his  affection,  I  cannot  but  mention 
the  frequentest  ecstasies  or  raptures  of  spirit, 
wherein  he  lay  on  his  bed,  (when  his  body  was 
even  deprived  of  all  power  of  its  own  motion, 
but  with  no  great  pain,)  in  consideration  of  di- 
vine love  to  him  in  general,  and  in  particular 
that  he  felt  no  great  pain.  Never  heard  I  God 
so  loved  and  thanked  in  the  highest  confluences 
16 


242  LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE. 

of  pleasing  providences  by  others,  as  he  was 
by  him  in  his  affliction,  for  not  inflicting  great 
pain  upon  him  ;  though  he  v»'as  otherwise  so 
sad  a  spectacle  of  weakness,  and  looked  so  hke 
death,  that  some  great  ladies  often  hindered  his 
comingf  into  the  bath,  the  ohastliness  of  his  look 
did  so  affright  them. 

3.  His  pure  and  sacred  love  wrought  in  him 
a  great  spirit  of  charity  and  meekness  to  men 
of  other  judgments  and  persuasions,  and  great 
affection  tov/ard  all  such  in  whom  he  found  any 
spiritual  good.  His  zeal  was  all  of  a  building, 
and  not  destroying,  nature.  He  had  too  much 
wisdom  to  esteem  Lis  own  thoughts  to  be  the 
standard  of  all  other  men's.  His  clear  light  and 
pure  heat  made  him  of  a  more  discerning,  sub- 
stantial, and  divine  temper,  than  to  reject  any 
(in  whom  charity  could  see  any  thing  of  a  new 
nature)  for  differing  from  him  in  the  modes  or 
forms  of  discipline  or  worship,  or  disputable 
points. 

4.  Suitably  to  his  high  degree  of  holiness  and 
divine  communion,  he  enjoyed  the  richest  assu- 
rance of  divine  love  to  himself  in  particular,  and 
of  his  saving  interest  in  Christ.  I  believe  few 
men  were  ever  born  that  attained  to  so  clear, 
satisfied,  and  powerful  evidence  that  his  sins 
were  pardoned,  and  his  person  accepted  in  Jesus 
unto  eternal  life,  and  had  more  glorious  fore- 
tastes of  heaven.  I  remember  once  coming  in 
when  he  was  kneeling  down  to  family  prayer, 
his  heart  was  in  that  duty  carried  forth  into  such 
expressions  of  love  and  praise  for  the  sealings 


LIFE    OF    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  243 

of  everlasting  life  as  I  never  heard  before  or 
since  ;  and  such  as,  I  am  fully  satisfied,  none 
could  express  but  who  had  received  the  white 
stone  with  the  new  name  in  it. 

But  this  was  not  accidental  to  him,  or  un- 
usual ;  for  (whatever  clouds  he  might  possibly 
have,  though  I  know  of  none,)  I  am  sure,  for  a 
good  time  l3efore  his  death,  he  lived  in  the  very 
dawning  to  glory,  both  in  the  full  assurance  of 
it  as  his  portion,  and  a  spirit  of  sanctity,  love, 
and  praise,  like  unto  it. 

And  though  in  the  very  hour  of  his  dying,  his 
disease  had  heated  his  head  ;  and  in  his  rap- 
tures he  had  expressions  which  at  another  time 
his  grace  and  reason  would  not  have  used ;  yet 
all  the  copies  which  I  have  seen  of  those  trans- 
ports, in  the  substance  of  them,  speak  only  fuller 
assurance  of  God^s  love  to  him,  and  his  highest 
returns  of  love  to  Christ  again. 

And  I  do  not  at  all  wonder,  that  a  person 
shining  so  much  with  the  divine  image,  and 
living  so  uninterruptedly  in  the  nearest  divine 
communion,  shonld  enjoy  such  assurance  of 
God's  love,  and  be  filled  so  with  joy  therein, 
and  making  such  returns  of  love  and  praise 
thereto. 


THE    LIFE 


MR.  NATHANAEL   HEYWOOD, 


MINISTER    OF    THE    GOSPEL    AT    ORMSKIRK, 
IN    LANCASHIRE. 


THE  LIFE 

or 

MR.  NATHANAEL  HEYWOOD, 


CHAPTER  L 

Mr.  Nathanael  Heywood  was  born  in 
Little-Leaver,  in  the  parish  of  Bolton-le- Moors, 
in  Lancashire,  He  was  descended  from  godly 
parents,  Richard  and  Alice  Heywood  ;  and  was 
baptized  in  the  parish  church;  September  16th, 
1633.  During-  his  infancy  he  was  exceedingly 
weak  and  sickly,  much  afflicted  with  fits,  and 
was  frequently  under  the  sentence  of  death,  in 
the  apprehension  of  all  spectators.  His  tender- 
hearted parents  often  gave  him  up  :  but  God, 
w^ho  quickeneth  the  dead,  raised  him  from  the 
gates  of  the  grave,  that  by  him  he  might  raise 
sinners  from  death  to  spiritual  life.  Those 
violent  fits  so  weakened  his  spirits,  that  in  his 
younger  days  he  was  not  judged  tit  to  be  trained 
up  for  the  ministry;  and  therefore  his  parents 
frequently  took  him  from  school,  and  set  him  to 
learn  to  write  and  cast  accounts,  intending  to 
send  him  (o  London  for* an  apprentice.  But  he 
recruiting  as  to  natural  strength,  they,  being 
encouraged   by  his   extraordinary  capacity  for 


248  LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

learning,  kept  him  still  at  school,  having  the 
advantage  of  a  learned  and  diligent  master  near 
at  hand,  who  encouraged  ihem  much  to  breed 
him  a  scholar,  especially  observing  his  inclina- 
tions that  way.  At  last  they  resolved  upon  it ; 
and  when  he  had  passed  those  juvenile  studies 
at  school,  making  good  proficiency,  notwith- 
standing his  frequent  interruptions,  he  was 
judged  ready  for  the  university  at  fourteen 
years  of  age  :  whither  he  went,  and  was  ad- 
mitted. May  4ih,  1648,  in  Trinity  College,  Cam- 
bridge- He  was  well  approved  of  for  learning, 
and  fell  close  to  his  studies,  performing  the  usual 
exercises  with  applause.  He  was  of  a  quick  ap- 
prehension, solid  judgment^  tenacious  memory; 
which  seldom  meet  in  one  pereon ;  and  was 
therefore  fit  to  matiage  what  he  undertook  with 
great  facilitj' :  so  that  he  profited  in  academical 
learning  beyond  his  equals. 

As  yet  his  heart  was  not  seasoned  with  grace. 
Though  he  was  religiously  educated,  complying 
with  holy  exercises,  loved  God's  people,  and 
was  not  tainted  with  grass  scandals  ;  yet  he 
had  not  discerned  the  evil  of  sin,  the  necessity 
of  Christ,  till  he  was  providentially  brought  un- 
der the  ministry  of  Mr.  Hammond,  Fellow  of 
Magdalen  College,  preacher  at  St.  Giles's  ;  by 
whose  plain  and  powerful  preaching  his  heart 
was  smitten  with  a  sound  conviction,  which  cost 
him  many  sad  thoughts  of  heart,  as  well  as  tears, 
but  ended  in  a  sound  conversion,  and  sincere 
covenanting  with  God,  and  centring  his  soul  by 
faith  on  Jesus  Christ.    Then  he  associated  with 


LIFE    OF    NATHAXAEL    IIEYWOOD.  249 

serious  Christians,  and  walked  exemplarily; 
howbeit,  he  complained  of  his  backshdincs, 
which  he  repented  of,  and  his  soul  was  healed. 
AVhen  he  had  taken  his  decree,  he  went  to 
London,  and  there  heard  Mr.  Peter  Sterry;  and 
was  much  taken  with  his  parts,  and  manner  of 
preachintj. 

When  he  came,  down  into  the  country,  his 
father  judged  it  convenient  to  dispose  of  him 
under  the  tuition  of  some  reverend  minister,  by 
whose  care  and  example  he  might  be  prepared 
for  farther  service.  And  it  pleased  God  in  his 
providence  to  fix  him  in  the  faiuily  of  that  judi- 
cious divine,  Mr.  Edward  Gee,  of  Eccleston ; 
where  he  continued  about  two  years,  studied 
hard,  behaved  himself  orderly,  and  profited 
much :  so  that  he  often  blessed  God  for  the 
good  he  met  with  in  that  family ;  and  indeed 
he  was  moulded  into  the  method  and  practices 
of  that  holy  and  eminent  man  of  God ;  whose 
excellent  treatises  of  prayer  and  government 
speak  his  worth :  a  man  of  great  learning,  or- 
thodoxy, and  exact  holiness  ;  a  most  substan- 
tial Scriptural  preacher. 

While  Mr.  Heywood  lived  in  Mr.  Gee's 
family,  God  directed  his  thoughts  to  a  young 
gentlewoman  in  the  neighbourhood,  Elizabeth 
Parre,  nearly  related  to  Dr.  Parre,  bishop  of 
the  Isle  of  Man  ;  whom,  in  convenient  time, 
he  married,  and  she  became  a  pious,  prudent, 
provident  wife  for  him  ;  by  whom  he  had 
several  children.  His  elder  son  succeeded  in 
his  father's  place,  as  pastor  to  that  people,  in 


250  LIFE   OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD, 

their  newly  erected  meeting-place  ;  a  young 
man  of  parts,  and  of  exemplary  piety. 

When  Mr.  Heywood  was  married,  it  pleased 
God  to  give  him  a  call  to  a  people  in  York- 
shire ;  for  he  had  a  great  des-ire  to  be  employ- 
ed in  his  Lord's  work :  and  that  very  day  that 
an  invitation  came  to  him,  he  told  the  messen- 
ger that  he  had  been  spending  most  of  it  in  fast- 
ing and  prayer ;  wherein  he  found  his  heart 
much  enlarged,  and  looked  upon  that  call  as  an 
answer  to  prayer ;  and  thereupon  freely  em- 
braced it,  and  in  convenient  season  took  a 
journey. 

The  place  to  w^hich  he  was  called  was  111- 
ingworth  chapel,  in  the  vicarage  of  Halifax. 
When  he  had  preached  a  day  or  two  with  them, 
the  people  engaged  him  to  settle  with  them, 
which  he  did ;  and  continued  three  or  four 
years,  and  was  an  instrument  of  much  good, 
having  a  full  auditory,  and  some  seals  of  his 
ministry.  But  the  devil,  envying  the  success 
of  the  gospel,  raised  up  some  potent  adversaries 
against  him,  who  maligned  and  opposed  him 
for  his  faithfulness  in  admonitions.  Some 
meetings  there  were  about  his  continuance ; 
one  said  to  him,  "  Mr.  Heywood,  you  have 
raised  differences  and  disturbances  since  you 
came."  He  answered,  '*  I  have  not  sought  the 
peace  of  the  place,  but  the  good  of  it,"  This 
the  man  ruminated  upon,  and  could  not  tell 
what  to  make  of  that  expression  ;  not  remem- 
bering that  the  principal  design  of  the  gospel 
and  its  publishers  is  the  good  of  souls  ;  but  the 


LIFE    OF    XATHAXAEL    HEYWOOD.  251 

accidental  fruit  of  it  is  dissension,  through  the 
corruption  of  men's  hearts,  according  to  what 
our  blessed  Lord  expressed,  Matt,  x,  34 : 
"  Think  not  that  I  am  come  to  send  peace  on 
earth ;  I  came  not  to  send  peace,  but  a  sword." 
In  this  controversy  about  his  stay,  an  earnest 
request  was  sent  to  him  by  the  peopie  o{  Orms- 
kirk,  to  come  to  them.  He  hearkened  to  them, 
having  several  discouragements  at  Illingworth, 
not  'here  fit  to  be  named :  notwithstanding, 
some  cordial  friends  in  that  congregation  stuck 
close  to  him,  and  challenged  an  interest  in  him ; 
both  sides  using  more  than  ordinary  arguments 
and  importunity,  exceedingly  puzzled  him,  and 
set  him  upon  the  rack  of  suspense.  He  ear- 
nestly sought  to  God  about  it,  he  begged  the 
advice  and  prayers  of  his  friends,  and  at  last 
was  counselled  to  refe'i'  the  business  to  several 
ministers  indifferently  chosen  by  lx5th  sides,  to 
hear  w^hat  could  be  said,  understand  circum- 
stances, and  give  their  judgment  in  this  weighty 
case,  to  which  of  these  places  his  way  was 
most  clear.  Indeed,  a  tliird  place  put  in  vigor- 
ously for  him,  namely,  Thornton,  in  Bradford 
parish  ;  but  the  controversy  was  chiefly  between 
Ormskirk  and  Illingworth.  The  ministers  met 
about  this  concern  at  Wigan,  in  Lanca-shire,  in 
January,  1656,  with  two  or  three  of  the  inha- 
bitants of  those  three  places.  Much  debate 
there  was,  and  some  hard  words  passed ;  the 
business  was  difficult,  and  cost  many  hours' 
discourse,  both  in  the  day  and  in  the  evening : 
and,  upon  a  serious  view  o(  the  reasons  on  ail 


252  LIFE  OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

hands,  at  last  ministers  concluded  that  his  way- 
was  clear  to  leave  Yorkshire,  and  betake  him- 
self to  Ormskirk ;  which,  being  a  great  parish, 
and  a  considerable  market-town,  and  the  people 
vacant,  and  very  importunate,  they  judged  that 
he  might  do  God  and  his  church  more  service 
in  that  great  place.  And,  indeed,  his  own  in- 
clinations carried  him  most  that  way,  upon 
some  peculiar  reasons.  He  removed  with  his 
family  thither  in  the  spring,  1657,  where  he 
was  entertained  with  much  respect  and  great 
solemnity :  and  there  he  laboured  faithfully  and 
diligently  in  the  course  of  his  public  ministry, 
private  instruction,  visiting  the  sick,  till  August 
24th,  1662,  that  black  day,  wherein  so  many 
were  sentenced  and  struck  dead  in  law  as  to 
any  public  service. 

The  annual  income  of  this  vicarage  was  very 
small,  not  amounting  to  above  £30  a  year  ;  yet 
there  was  an  augmentation  added  of  £50  a 
year  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  upon  an  itinerant 
preacher,  which  had  been  long  fixed  upon  the 
minister  of  that  place.  There  were  four  of 
them  in  Lancashire;  this  was  one  ;  and  jG200 
per  annum  was  paid  out  of  the  revenues  to 
those  four  :  this  v/as  paid  by  several  trustees  at 
the  audit. 

At  the  return  of  King  Charles  IL,  one  Mr. 
Stanninghaugh,  parson  of  Augham,  worth  jC140 
a  year,  about  two  miles  from  Ormskirk,  rode 
up  to  London,  and,  by  the  help  of  friends,  sur- 
reptitiously obtained  this  .£50  a  year  to  be  set- 
tled upon    himself;    which   gave  occasion  to 


LIFE    OF    .MATHAXAEL    IIEYWOOD.  253 

some  persons  to  reflect  upon  a  sermon  -which 
Mr.  Hey  wood  preached  at  Orniskirk,  upon  a 
day  of  thanksgiving  for  the  king's  restoration, 
upon  2  Sam.  xix,  30,"  And  Mephibosheth  said 
unto  the  king,  Yea,  let  him  take  all,  forasmuch 
as  my  lord  the  king  is  come  again  in  peace  into 
his  own  house :"  which  was  indeed  an  excel- 
lent discourse,  greatly  approved,  and  highly 
applauded  by  all,  especially  the  gentry,  who 
earnestly  solicited  him  to  print  it ;  but  he  re- 
fused, not  out  of  disloyalty,  but  modesty  ;  not 
because  he  durst  not  own  his  sovereign,  but  he 
was  not  willing  to  be  much  taken  notice  of  in 
the  world. 

Mr.  Hey  wood  digested  this  disingenuous  act 
of  his  neighbour  and  pretended  friend  with  great 
equanimity  and  calmness  ;  and  it  proved  a  worm 
to  the  one,  and  a  blessing  to  the  other :  for, 
though  this  Mr.  Stanninghaugh's  parsonage 
was  jC140  a  year,  and  his  tenement  wms  £30  a 
year,  and  this  £oO  yearly,  and  he  had  no  child  ; 
yet  he  left  nothing  at  his  death  but  debt,  and 
ins  wife  in  a  poor  condition. 

But  it  pleased  God  from  that  time  to  bless 
Mr.  Heywood's  small  income  incredibly :  and 
it  is  next  to  a  miracle  to  consider  what  great 
things  he  did,  when,  shortly  after,  he  was  turn- 
ed out  of  all,  and  yet  he  paid  some  debts,  and 
maintained  his  numerous  family  in  a  good  de- 
corum ;  for  he  had  nine  children.  He  took  a 
lease  for  three  lives  of  a  house  and  land,  paid 
jC60,  built  a  good  part  of  it ;  paid  jC30  for  buy- 
ino-  out  a  lease  elsewhere  ;  maintained  his  two 


254  LIFE    OF   NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

sons  at  school  at  Holland,  which  cost  him  jC14 
a  year  ;  sent  one  to  be  educated  in  university 
learning ;  besides  many  sore  sicknesses  in  his 
family.  Yet  such  was  the  blessing  of  God, 
that  he  waded  through  all,  without  contracting 
any  debt^  but  rather  increasing  his  estate  out 
of  his  small  income.  This  holy  man  was  very 
sensible  of  this  strange  providence,  and  often 
expressed  it  with  admiring  thankfulness. 


CHAPTER  II. 

In  the  year  1662,  August  24th,  the  Act  of 
Uniformity  struck  Mr.  Heywood  civilly  dead, 
with  the  rest  of  his  brethren ;  howbeit  he  con- 
tinued his  public  preaching  in  the  church  after 
that  day,  without  disturbance,  till  the  place  was 
filled  up  with  a  new  vicar,  one  Mr.  Ashworth, 
a  schoolmaster,  who  lived  six  or  eight  miles 
from  thence,  taught  his  school,  rode  thither  on 
Saturday,  and  back  on  ^Monday  morning  ;  and 
was  absent  all  the  week  for  several  years  :  so 
that  Mr.  Heywood  still  seemed  to  have  the 
sole  charge  of  that  town,  visiting  the  sick,  in- 
structing them,  praying  with  them,  preaching 
privately  to  them,  as  occasion  was  offered.  He 
was  abundant  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  not  only 
in  his  own  parish,  but  at  Wigan,  Warrington, 
Liverpool,  Preston,  Eccleston,  and,  upon  a  call, 
in  more  remote  places. 


LIFE    OF    NATHAXAEL    HEYWOOD.  255 

But  in  his  own  parish,  and  among  his  old 
hearers,  he  was  in  labours  more  abundant :  he 
usually  preached  twice  on  a  Lord's  day,  some- 
times several  times  in  week-days,  ordering  his 
labours  in  several  parts  of  the  parish,  both  in 
the  day  and  night.  Yea,  in  times  of  great 
danger  he  has  preached  at  one  house  in  the 
beginning  of  the  night,  and  then  gone  two  miles 
on  foot  over  mosses,  and  preached  toward 
morning  to  another  company  at  another  house. 

Nor  was  he  scant)-  and  short  in  his  sermons, 
but  usually  very  long,  two  hours  at  least,  often 
three  ;  yea,  somelimcs  he  would  have  continued 
four  or  iive  hours  praying  and  preaching.  His 
heart  was  so  fully  set  upon  his  ^Master's  work 
that  he  forgot  his  own  strength,  and  his  hear- 
ers' patience.  Nor  did  he  tediously  dream  over 
his  work,  but  was  full  of  zeal,  vigour,  tender- 
ness, and  affection,  often  straining  his  voice  be- 
yond what  his  natural  strength  could  well  bear, 
wliicli  occasioned  torturing  and  mortal  diseases. 
Like  a  candle,  he  spent  himself  to  give  others 
hght. 

Neither  was  he  a  mere  voice,  and  no  more, 
as  some  preachers  that,  like  thunder,  give  a 
loud  crack,  without  a  distinct  sound  or  signifi- 
cancy.  His  sermons  were  stuffed  witli  solid 
divinity,  Scripture  arguments,  alluring  similes, 
hearl-melling  passages.  He  was  an  excellent 
text-man,  producing  solid  interpretations ;  an 
experienced  casuist,  resolving  cases  of  consci- 
ence with  great  satisfaction  ;  a  clear  disputant, 
stating  controversies  solidly  and  substantially 


256  LIFE    OF   NATHAXAEL    HEYWOOD. 

answering  objections  learnedly  and  distinctly 
and  proving  the  truth  demonstratively.  He  was 
a  pathetical  preacher,  driving  the  nail  home,  in 
close  convictions  of  conscience  ;  warm  exhor- 
tations to  conversion,  or  to  particular  duties  ; 
plain  and  undeniable  directions ;  still  laying 
open  and  obviating  Satan's  wiles,  the  deceits 
of  a  bad  heart,  and  the  ensnaring  insinuations 
of  a  wicked  world  ;  rifling  the  conscience  by  a 
thorough  examination  ;  comforting  God's  chil- 
dren with  gospel  promises. 

This  indeed  was  his  masterpiece  and  main 
scope  in  his  preaching,  to  lay  open  the  excel- 
lences of  the  blessed  Jesus,  and  sinners'  great 
necessity  of  him  :  displaying,  in  lively  colours, 
the  love  of  God  in  sending  his  Son ;  the  love 
of  Christ  in  the  unparalleled  work  of  redemption ; 
the  offices,  purchases,  and  undertakings  of  the 
Son  of  God  ;  unfolding  the  covenant  of  grace, 
the  operations  of  the  Spirit,  and  in  applying  the 
merits  of  Christ.  The  truth  of  this  appears  in 
two  excellent  discourses,  printed  since  his 
death,  transcribed  out  of  his  own  notes,  as  he 
preached  them  the  same  year  in  which  he  died. 
The  one  is  called,  "  Christ  the  best  Gift,"  and 
is  grounded  on  John  iv,  10  ;  the  other  entitled, 
"  Christ  the  best  Master,"  grounded  upon  John 
xiii,  13.  These  two  excellent  treatises  are 
bound  up  together,  printed  after  his  death ;  for 
he  would  never  be  persuaded  to  publish  any 
thing;  though,  doubtless,  they  would  have  been 
more  accurate,  if  he  had  imagined  they  would 
have  seen  the  light.     But   such  as   they  are, 


LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD.  257 

they  have  proved  very  acceptable  and  profitable 
to  the  church  of  God.  Many  have  read  them 
with  pleasure,  and  some  good  divines  have 
quoted  passages  out  of  them. 

His  labours  in  the  ministry  were  so  exceed- 
ingly welcome  that  the  loss  of  him  in  public 
work  was  greatly  bewailed  by  the  whole  town 
and  parish :  he  was  beloved  of  all,  good  and 
bad.  A  poor  ignorant  man  came  to  him  when 
he  was  turned  out,  saying,  "  Ah,  Mr.  Heywood, 
we  would  gladly  have  you  preach  again  in  the 
church."  "  Yes,"  said  he,  "  I  would  as  gladly 
preach  as  you  desire  it,  if  I  could  do  it  with  a 
safe  conscience  in  conforming."  The  man 
replied,  "  O  sir,  many  a  man  now-a-days  makes 
a  great  gash  in  his  conscience  :  cannot  you 
make  a  little  nick  in  yours  ?" 

That  was  a  remarkable  passage  which  fell 
out  at  Ormskirk,on  July  30th,  1662,  which  Mr. 
Iley  wood  thus  describes  in  a  letter  to  a  friend : 
"  About  four  o'clock  that  day  in  the  afternoon 
was  dreadful  thunder  and  lightning  for  a  long 
time  together  ;  and  in  the  town  of  Ormskirk, 
and  about  it,  fell  a  great  shower  of  hail  in  a  ter- 
rible tempest.  Hailstones  were  as  big  as  ordi- 
nary apples  ;  some  say  nine  inches  in  compass. 
One  stone  that  I  took  up  was  above  four  in- 
ches, after  it  had  thawed  in  my  hand.  The 
hail  broke  all  our  glass  windows  westward ;  we 
have  not  one  pane  whole  on  that  side.  So  it  is 
with  most  of  the  houses  in  and  about  the  town. 
It  hath  cut  off  all  the  ears  of  our  standing  corn ; 
so  that  most  fields  that  were  full  of  excellent 
17 


258  LIFE    OF    XATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

barley,  and  other  grain,  are  not  worth  reaping. 
It  hath  shaken  the  apple  trees,  and,  in  some 
places,  bruised  the  apples  in  pieces.  The  hail 
cut  boughs  from  trees  ;  and  some  say  there  are 
strange  apparitions  in  the  air,  of  which  I  shall 
give  you  a  farther  account.  All,  especially  the 
ignorant,  were  much  terrified,  thinking  it  had 
been  the  day  of  judgment.  Certainly  it  was  a 
sad  sign  of  God's  displeasure  with  ns ;  and  I  wish 
it  be  not  a  presage  of  more  abiding  judgments. 
They  tell  me  that  my  small  share  of  loss  will 
amount  to  ten  pounds  at  least.  In  half  an  hour 
all  this  hurt  was  done.  The  Lord  sanctify  this 
sudden  stroke  to  me  and  my  poor  people  !" 

Mr.  Clark,  in  his  e>;amples,  hath  this  story, 
and  mentions  Mr.  Hey  wood's  attestation  of  it; 
which  yet  I  thought  fit  to  relate  here  ;  partly 
because  this  is  fuller  than  he  relates  it ;  partly 
to  show  how  observant  this  holy  man  was  of 
the  remarkable  providences  of  God.  It  was 
his  observation,  that  this  natural  storm  was  a 
sad  presage  of  a  mortil  storm  on  ministers  and 
churches,  Avhich  fell  the  very  month  after,  that 
rooted  up  so  many  useful  fruit-bearing  trees, 
marred  so  much  good  fruit,  and  shattered  the 
glass  by  which  the  light  of  saving  truth  is  con- 
veyed into  the  house  of  God. 

This  good  man  was  so  endeared  to  this 
people  that  he  was  resolved  never  to  part  from 
them  till  death  made  the  divorce.  Of  them 
thus  he  writes : — "  I  have  a  loving  though  poor, 
docile  though  ignorant,  people.  They  flock  in 
very  great  rjumbers  to  the  ordinances ;  and  1 


LIFE    OF    XATIIANAEL    IIEYWOOD.  259 

have  hopes  of  doing  some  good  (it  may  be  al- 
ready begun)  among  them.  I  had  some  notion 
to  conform  ;  but  I  will  not  change  on  any  ac- 
coimt  whatsoever.  Let  me  have  your  prayers  ; 
help  me  for  this  poor  people,  whom  1  love  as 
my  own  children,  and  long  after  in  the  bowels 
of  Christ." 

He  had  frequent  distempers  upon  his  body, 
which  much  promoted  God's  work  upon  his 
heart.  In  the  year  1667  he  had  a  violent  dis- 
temper, which  in  a  fortnight's  time  brought  his 
body  very  low  :  and,  by  the  time  that  he  was 
recovered,  his  wife  fell  into  a  languishing  dis- 
ease, which  threatened  death,  besides  grievous 
afflictions  in  her  spirit,  and  sad  apprehensions 
of  death  for  above  a  month  together;  a  swell- 
ing in  her  throat,  which  increased  to  a  hard 
tumour  in  the  hollow  of  her  throat,  which  in- 
evitably, in  the  eye  of  reason,  threatened  death ; 
but,  beyond  all  expectation,  God  graciously  re- 
moved that,  and  raised  her  up  again  in  mercy 
to  the  fiimily.  In  the  year  1670,  his  son  Natha- 
nael  was  strangely  taken  with  convulsion  fits, 
which  tortured  and  distorted  his  face,  limbs, 
and  every  part  of  his  body  in  a  prodigious  man- 
ner ;  but  God  also  at  last  raised  him  up  upon 
the  prayers  of  his  people.  These  providences 
found  him  work  for,  and  quickened  his  spirit  in, 
prayer. 

In  October,  1671,  Mr.  Hey  wood  fell  into  a 
malignant  fever,  which  (as  his  two  doctors,  Dr. 
Fife  and  Dr.  Grundy,  said)  had  seized  the 
nerves,  and  spirits,    and   brain.     He  was  not 


260  LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

in  extremity  of  pain,  because  (as  the  physicians 
said)  the  disease  lay  not  so  much  in  the  blood. 
Upon  the  thirteenth  day  after  he  began,  he  was 
judged  to  be  past  recovery :  Dr.  Fife  (a  bois- 
terous man,  and  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  Fild- 
country,  near  Garstang)  called  for  a  candle, 
and  bade  him  open  his  mouth ;  which,  when 
he  had  looked  into,  he  swore  a  great  oath,  and 
said,  "  His  tongue  is  as  black  as  a  thrush. 
Call  the  mistress  of  the  house  ;  let  him  set  all 
things  in  order,  and  make  his  will ;  for  he  is  a 
gone  man."  These  words  astonished  his  fa- 
mily ;  but  his  own  and  only  surviving  sister, 
being  present,  and  hearing  these  confident  ex- 
pressions, gathered  encouragement,  and  thought 
within  herself,  "  This  is  but  a  man,  and  may 
be  deceived.  God  is  God,  and  can  confute 
him."  Thus  Dr.  Fife  left  him  as  hopeless,  and 
said,  it  was  in  vain  to  give  him  any  thing.  But 
before  he  came  to  his  own  house,  at  Houghton 
Tower,  a  fever  seized  violently  upon  the  doctor 
himself,  and,  in  a  few  days,  made  an  end  of  him  ; 
so  he  never  returned  home  alive.  But  from 
that  very  day  Mr.  Heywood  began  to  amend, 
the  fever  abating.  It  is  likely  that  was  a  crisis, 
when  the  disease  was  at  its  height ;  for  it  was 
a  dreadful  day  and  night.  He  had  all  the  symp- 
toms of  death  upon  him  ;  but  God  had  mercy 
upon  him,  as  upon  sick  Epaphroditus.  (Philip- 
pians  ii,  27.)  God  had  much  work  for  him  to 
do.  But  he  continued  under  weakness,  and 
some  disorder  in  his  head  ;  for  he  could  not  be 
persuaded   that  he   was   at  home,   confidently 


LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HKYWOOD.  261 

affirming  he  was  at  Bickerstaff,  where  indeed 
he  was  immediately  before  his  distemper  began, 
to  visit  Sir  Edward  Stanley,  w  lo  was  begim  in 
a  fever,  and  died  shortly  after:  Mr.  Hey  wood 
would  needs  be  helped  to  the  window  to  see 
the  funeral  pass  by  to  the  church. 


CHAPTER  IIL 

This  sore  sickness  was  in  the  year  1671  ; 
and  the  king's  licenses  came  out  in  the  year 
following.  And,  indeed,  hitherto  he  had  very 
little  or  no  disturbance  in  his  preaching.  God 
was  preparing  him  both  fur  service  and  suffer- 
ing. This  sickness  preceded  service.  God 
laid  the  foundation  low,  designing  to  build  high  ; 
and  often  he  thinks  fit  to  lay  the  fairest  colours 
upon  a  sable  bottom.  So  God  passed  the  sen- 
tence of  death  upon  him  immediately  before 
this  little  resurrection  ;  for,  in  the  spring  fol- 
lowing, came  out  the  liberty  to  preach.  Air. 
Heywood  cordially  embraced  it,  and  had  two 
chapels  licensed,  namely,  BickerstafT,  adjoining 
to  Lady  Stanley's  house,  two  miles  south  from 
Ormskirk ;  the  other  was  Scaresbrook,  two  miles 
north  from  the  church,  both  in  Ormskirk  parish. 
These  he  supplied  constantly  ;  preaching  at 
the  one  chapel  one  day,  at  ihe  other  the  next 
Lord's  day ;  of  which  he  thus  writes  : — "  I 
bless   God,  my  congregation  is   numerous  and 


262  LIFE    OF    XATHAXAEL    HEYWOOD. 

attentive.  O  that  they  were  as  fruitful !  My  fami- 
ly is  healthful:  O  that  they  were  more  holy!" 
He  continued  two  years  in  these  two  chapels ; 
but  about  April  9th,  1674,  he  thus  writes  : — "I 
have  had  more  trouble  and  opposition  in  my 
ministerial  employment  these  four  months  last 
past,  than  ever  I  had  in  all  my  life.  Archers 
have  sorely  grieved  us,  and  shot  at  us  thirty- 
four  arrows,  I  mean  warrants ;  but  our  bow 
abides  in  strength,  by  the  hands  of  the  mighty 
God  of  Jacob.  Officers  have  come  eighteen 
Lord's  days  together,  but  have  not  as  yet  scat- 
tered us.  How  easy  is  it  for  God  to  save  us, 
while  we  serve  him,  if  we  could  believe  I  I  am 
encouraged  to  hope  that  some  good  is  done,  or 
may  be  done,  by  my  poor  labours  in  this  season ; 
and  it  is  no  ill  sign  when  Satan  rageth  so  vio- 
lently against  us.  God  can  work  without  or 
against  means,  and  can  work  by  improbable 
means  to  accomplish  great  ends.  I  was  never 
more  inwardly  borne  up  under  storms,  nor 
strengthened  against  difficulties,  in  all  my  life. 
It  may  be  that  my  time  is  short,  and  my  work 
near  an  end.  O  that  I  may  live  and  die  in 
God's  work  and  way,  and  be  faithful  unto 
death!  Dear  brother,  let  my  condition  have  a 
deeper  impression  on  your  heart  than  ordinary. 
Two  warrants  (one  for  JC20,  the  other  for  £A0) 
have  been  out  against  me  these  seven  weeks  : 
but  we  keep  our  doors  fast  barred,  and  the 
officers  are  very  civil  to  us.  O  that  I  could 
see  you !  I  have  no  horse,  but  go  all  my  jour- 
neys on  foot." 


LIFE    OF    NATHAXAEL    HEYWOOD.  263 

November  13th,  1674,  lie  thus  writes: — "I 
bless  God,  my  libert}',  notwithstandin^r  all  my 
troubles,  is  not  wholly  lost,  but  somedmes  dis- 
turbed. We  meet  in  lear,  yet  we  meet  in  both 
chapels.  No  warrant  has  been  sent  for  a 
month  or  more,  and  my  auditory  increaseth 
again.  O  that  I  had  a  heart  to  improve  late 
experiences  and  present  opportunities,  and  do 
my  duty,  leaving  the  issue  to  Him  that  judgeth 
righteously !" 

But  his  excessive  pains,  though  refreshing  to 
his  spirit,  were  wasting  to  his  body;  for  about 
that  time  thus  he  writes  : — ••  I  am  still  at  work 
in  both  chapels  ;  but  I  am  much  cast  down  with 
pains  and  weakness  of  body,  having  overgone 
my  strength,  and  wasted  myself  in  these  inter- 
vals of  liberty  which  God  hath  given  us.  But 
I  have  no  reason  to  repent  any  thing  I  could 
ever  do  for  so  good  a  Master.  O  that  I  had 
done  more  and  better !" 

About  the  same  time  he  writes  thus : — •"  Some 
assaults  Satan  hath  made  upon  me  with  a  right- 
hand  temptation.  The  whole  parish  of  Aughton 
have  been  importunate  with  me  to  put  myself 
into  a  capacity  for  their  parsonage,  (worth  seven 
or  eight  score  pounds  per  annum;)  the  bishop 
(that  is,  Dr.  Wilkins)  promiselh  favour  to  mc  in 
it ;  but  God  did  not  leave  me  so  much  as  to  have 
any  serious  thoughts  to  yield  to  that  temptation. 
I  preach  still,  but  not  so  constantly,  nor  in  so 
full  a  congregation,  as  formerly.  Dear  brother, 
I  beseech  you,  for  the  Lord's  sake,  and  for  the 
love  of  the  Spirit,  strive  together  with  me,  in 


264  LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

your  prayers   to   God  for  me,  you    know   for 
what." 

At  last,  after  many  stmgglings,  threatenings, 
affrightings,  people's  withdrawings  and  rallying 
again,  a  stratagem  was  contrived  to  silence  him 
at  once.  The  deputy-lieutenants  sent  some  sol- 
diers to  take  Mr.  Heywood  in  the  pulpit ;  and 
though  it  was  known,  yet  they  met  in  Bickerstaff 
chapel.  Lady  Stanley  came  out  of  her  galler\', 
and  placed  herself  near  the  pulpit-door,  hoping 
to  overawe  their  spirits,  and  obstruct  their  de- 
signs. The  soldiers  stood  without  while  Mr. 
Heywood  was  at  prayer ;  but  when  he  had  prayed, 
ihey  rushed  in,  and  required  him  to  come  down, 
and  go  along  with  them.  He  mildly  desired  the 
favour  of  them,  that  ihey  would  give  him  leave 
to  preach,  and  he  would  go  along  with  them ; 
but  they  rudely  ran  toward  the  pulpit.  The  lady 
would  have  stopped  them,  but  they  pressed  for- 
^vard,  opened  the  pulpit-door,  got  hold  of  his 
coat  and  tore  it,  and  in  a  sort  pulled  him  out, 
and  took  him  a, way  with  them :  nor  could  the 
lady's  mediation  prevail  to  procure  him  a  little 
refreshment ;  only  in  the  road  he  grew  faint, 
and  desired  them  to  call  with  him  at  an  alehouse, 
which  they  did,  and  the  landlady  (though  he  had 
no  acquaintance  with  her)  was  exceedingly  kind 
to  him,  and  said  he  should  have  any  thing  she 
had  in  the  house ;  *'  but  those  rogues  that  took 
him,"  said  she,  "  shall  not  have  a  morsel ;"  so 
they  carried  him  away  to  an  alehouse  in  Hol- 
land, where  he  lodged  that  night,  and  from 
whence  he  thus  wrote  to  his  wife  : — 


LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD.  265 

*•  I  am  very  well,  I  bless  God,  and  never  in 
greater  honour,  or  so  highly  advanced,  in  all  mv- 
life.  I  was  pulled  out  of  the  pulpit  with  a  pistol 
lilted  up  at  my  head,  and  a  profane  oath  in  mine 
ears ;  but  the  man  repents  his  rashness,  and 
wishes  he  had  let  me  preach,  for  he  never  heard 
a  better  prayer,  (tc.  But  be  not  troubled,  God 
hath  showed  me  more  mercy  than  I  can  be 
thankful  for.  O  help  me  to  praise  him  I  O 
what  cause  have  we  to  rejoice  in  suffering  upon 
this  account !  God  will  have  glory,  and  his 
church  the  benefit.  But  I  fear  it  must  be  an 
imprisonment,  or  promise  not  to  preach,  which 
is  my  very  life." 

But  God  in  his  gracious  providence  also  scat- 
tered this  cloud ;  for  the  day  after,  when  it  was 
noised  abroad  that  Mr.  Hey  wood  was  taken, 
abundance  of  people,  and  many  considerable 
gentlemen,  and  some  that  were  no  friends  to  his 
cause,  out  of  respect  to  his  person,  mediated  for 
him  ;  yea,  several  of  good  report,  and  intimate 
with  the  justices,  offered  to  be  bound  for  his 
appearance,  and  to  give  any  security  that  should 
be  required.  The  justices  then  tendered  him 
the  Oxford  oath.  He  was  in  a  strait ;  for  if  he 
peremptorily  refused  it,  they  had  some  advan- 
tage against  him.  He  told  them  that  persons 
must  swear  in  judgment,  and  therefore  he  de- 
sired some  time  to  consider  of  it ;  which  was 
consented  to.  And  seehig  such  an  appearance 
of  persons  of  all  ranks  for  him,  they  gave  him 
respite,  and  liberty  to  go  home  till  the  next 
quarter-sessions,  which  was  to  be  at  Wigan  a 


266  LIFE    OF    XATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

montli  after ;  but  they  bound  him  to  appear  at 
the  sessions. 

Thus  he  was  deUvered  out  of  that  snare, 
and  went  home,  and  wrote  a  letter  that  day, 
dated  January  28th,  1674:  "Pray  help  me  to 
praise  God,  and  remember  a  poor  sufferer  for 
the  gospel  in  your  prayers.  People  do  so  throng 
in  to  see  me,  now  I  am  come  home  again,  that 
I  have  not  time  to  write  fully  to  you,  but  com- 
mit you  to  God  and  his  protection,  that  you 
may  long  enjoy  and  fruitfully  improve  that 
sweet  liberty  in  God's  vineyard  which  I  doubt 
I  have  lost." 

The  sessions  at  Wigan  came  on :  he  attended 
there  according  to  his  bonds.  Several  justices 
appeared  for  him,  and  his  friends  came  to  see 
the  issue,  and  to  mediate  for  him.  Old  Lady 
Stanley  came  herself,  and  her  husband  ;  Mr. 
Henry  Hoghton,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  Mr. 
Christopher  Banister,  of  Bank,  and  several 
others,  spoke  much  on  his  behalf.  Another 
justice,  then  upon^he  bench,  said,  "  If  Mr. 
Heywood  be  sent  to  Lancaster  jail,  he  will  be 
as  comfortably  maintained,  and  as  honourably 
released,  as  ever  any  prisoner  was."  Some  of 
his  adversaries,  seeing  which  way  the  court 
inclined,  slunk  away  in  a  discontent,  took  horse 
and  rode  home ;  so  the  snare  was  again  broken, 
and  Mr.  Heywood  was  dismissed,  to  the  joy  of 
his  friends,  vexation  of  his  enemies,  and  amaze- 
ment of  all  that  heard  of  it. 

Other  snares  were  laid  to  entrap  him  upon  the 
Five-Mile  Act;  but  nobody  could  be  brought  to 


LIFE    Oh-    XATHAXALL    HEYWOOD.  267 

swear  that  he  hved  in  the  town,  though  ^Ir. 
Heywood  was  usually  at  home,  and  conversed 
openly  in  the  town,  he  was  so  generally  beloved, 
A  warrant  was  issued  out  to  distrain  upon  Mr, 
Hey  wood's  goods  for  JC20;  but  the  officers  said 
the  doors  were  shut,  and  they  had  no  orders  to 
break  them ;  yet  they  might  have  taken  advan- 
tage, if  they  had  been  severe  ;  but  indeed  they 
were  generally  very  favourable.  It  is  true,  the 
doors  were  kept  fast  for  half  a  year  together, 
and  they  never  got  a  pennyworth  of  his  goods, 
which  was  looked  upon  as  a  wonderful  provi- 
dence ;  for  children  and  others  were  frequently 
passing  and  repassing  through  the  doors,  both 
before  and  behind  his  house.  God  took  him 
off  his  work  by  men's  rigour,  and  obstructed 
his  former  diligence  by  his  own  immediate 
hand  upon  his  body,  at  the  same  time  ;  and 
thus  he  writes  : — 

"  ]^Iay  7th,  1675.  I  am  glad  your  precious 
liberty  is  continued.  I  have  nothing  to  do  now 
at  home,  but  am  much  abroad,  which  is  a  heavy 
burden  to  me.  Pray  increase  your  fervent  pray- 
ers for  me.     Riding  is  very  painful  to  me," 

January  1st,  1675-6,  he  writes  thus  : — "  I  am 
now  very  busy,  blessed  be  God.  These  holy 
days,  so  called,  when  others  play,  I  work,  having 
preached  oftener  hereabouts  in  a  few  days  than 
I  did  in  the  whole  year.  I  was  lately  at  Ches- 
ter, (beino  compelled  thither  by  the  importunity 
of  friends,)  where  I  preached  thrice,  and  had 
gjeat  encouragement.  God  hath  much  people, 
I  believe,  in  that  place  :  they  would  persuade 


268  LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

me  to  live  with  them  ;  but  1  am  resolved  to  stick 
here  yet,  where  Providence  hath  so  eminently 
settled  me,  preserved,  and  provided  tor  me. 
My  lads  seem  to  be  inclined  to  the  ministry. 
Who  knows  but  God  may  be  fitting  instruments 
for  his  work  in  the  next  age  ?  For  my  part,  I 
can  see  no  reason  to  look  for  any  thing  but~ 
judgments  in  this." 

He  was  always  a  zealous  and  notable  cham- 
pion against  papists,  of  whom  there  be  great 
store  in  those  parts.  When  Air.  Heywood  has 
been  sent  for  to  visit  sick  persons,  (in  which 
w^ork  he  was  constant,  careful,  and  sometimes 
successful,)  popish  friends  or  neighbours  would 
often  procure  some  popish  priest,  or  one  of  their 
religion,  to  come  also  to  them  ;  and  if  they  had 
but  the  least  pretence  to  give  it  out  that  the 
party  died  in  their  faith,  they  would  wonder- 
fully insult  over  the  Protestants.  One  person 
dying  with  whom  Mr.  Heywood  took  abun- 
dance of  pains,  and  a  popish  priest  also  fre- 
quented that  house,  who  was  so  vexed  that  he 
could  not  prevail  with  the  party  that  he  wrote 
some  queries  for  Mr,  Heywood  to  answer ;  which 
he  did  so  acutely  and  solidly,  that  the  ignorant 
priest  was  nettled  and  puzzled,  and  sent  to  one 
of  their  more  learned  advocates  to  vindicate 
their  desperate  and  falling  cause.  He  made  a 
large  rejoinder,  with  abundance  of  quotations 
out  of  the  ancients  :  to  which  Mr.  Heywood 
made  a  learned  and  sufhcient  reply;  only  it  was 
lame  because  he  had  not  by  him  the  authors 
quoted.     He  therefore  sent  the  papers  to  Mr. 


LIFE    OF    XATHAXAEL    HEYWOOD.  269 

Illingworth,  (an  excellent  scholar,  and  at  that 
time  much  conversant  in  the  college  library  at 
Manchester,)  who  took  abundance  of  pains  to 
search  and  read  over  some  large  volumes  to 
satisfy  and  solve  a  quotation  which  referred  not 
to  book,  chapter,  or  page  ;  however,  they  join- 
ing together,  that  work  was  incomparably  done, 
worthy  of  an  impression ;  but  they  heard  no 
more  of  that  gentleman,  (for  so  the  popish 
priests  are  called.)  though  he  had  often  to  do 
with  them. 

Another  passage  he  wrote  in  a  letter,  dated 
June  r2th,  1675,  to  this  purpose  : — "  I  do  just 
nothing  almost,  either  publicly  or  privately ;  it 
is  much  worse  with  me  than  before  the  indul- 
gence ;  yet  God  hath  of  late  employed  me  an- 
other way,  not  so  delightful  and  according  to  my 
genius  as  preaching.  A  gentlewoman,  inclined 
to  marry  a  popish  gentleman,  would  not  marry 
till  she  had  satisfaction  that  it  was  lawful  from 
some  divine  ;  and  pitched  on  me  to  resolve  the 
case,  which  I  did  very  freely  and  plainly  to  her 
once  or  twice.  I  never  dealt  so  plainly  with 
any  person  in  my  life,  and  yet  she  took  all  well; 
whereas  she  fell  out  with  her  nearest  relations 
and  best  friends  for  speaking  but  a  little  against 
it.  She  would  needs  have  my  reasons  in 
writing  ;  and  having  got  them  in  a  large  dis- 
suasive letter,  she  showed  it  to  the  gentleman, 
and  he  carried  it  to  a  priest ;  and  twelve  days 
after  the  letter,  he  brought  me  a  long  and  subtle 
answer;  to  which  I  made  a  large  and,  I  think 
satisfactory  reply.     In  the  meantime  we  endea- 


270  LIFE    OF    XATHAXAEL    HEYWOOD. 

voured  to  divert  her  to  other  matches,  but  all 
in  vain  ;  her  affections  were  too  strong  for  her 
judgment,  though  she  seemed  to  approve  and 
consent  to  my  reply,  yet  went  on  with  the  gen- 
tleman, and  was  just  about  to  be  married  ;  so 
that  I  could  expect  no  other  fruit  of  my  labour 
but  my  own  satisfaction  that  I  had  done  my 
duty,  leaving  the  event  to  God.  God,  however, 
appeared  in  the  mount.  One  Mr.  D.,  (a  hope- 
ful young  gentleman,  of  religious  parents  in 
Cheshire,)  coming  very  accidentally  to  A.,  and 
finding  this  lady  there,  was  struck  with  love, 
courted  her,  and  married  her  in  eight  days'  time. 
Such  a  providence  must  not  pass  without  parti- 
cular notice,  and  special  praise  to  God.  The 
young  gentleman  came  thither  also  for  a  diver- 
sion, upon  the  like  occasion ;  yet  knowing 
nothing  of  her,  but  designing  another  place, 
was  turned  by  a  minister  in  his  company  to 
take  a  night's  lodging  at  A.  This  is  the  talk 
and  wonder  of  the  whole  country,  the  shame 
and  confusion  of  the  papists,  (who  had  a  design 
upon  that  family,  and  were  confident  it  was  their 
own,)  the  joy  of  all  good  Protestants,  and  of  all 
friends  to  that  worshipful  family.  I  want  and 
crave  your  help  to  give  due  praise  to  God  for 
answering  prayers  so  wonderfully." 

Another  thing  which  greatly  exasperated  the 
popish  party  was  a  sharp  sermon  which  Mr. 
Hey  wood  preached  upon  November  5th,  1673, 
at  Scaresbrook  chapel,  upon  Revelation  xviii,  4; 
a  very  learned,  judicious  discourse  against  the 
papists;  which,  together  with  the  forementioned 


LIFE    OF    NATHAXAEL    HEYWOOD.  271 

provocations,  so  offended  them  that  (though  they 
could  not  take  full  revenge  on  him  themselves, 
yet)  they  prevailed  with  some  justices  to  prose- 
cute him.  And  this  is  thought  to  be  the  true 
reason  of  all  that  unparalleled  rage  of  some 
against  Mr.  Heywood  ;  whereas  several  others 
in  the  same  circumstances  as  culpable  were  let 
alone  to  enjoy  iheir  meetings  quietly. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Ix  the  midst  of  these  employments  and  oppo- 
sitions, God  was  pleased  to  lay  a  very  afflictive 
distemper  upon  his  body,  which  for  a  long  time 
was  judged  to  be  the  stone  or  gravel.  Certainly 
it  was  exceedingly  acute  and  painful ;  yet  it  is 
disputable  whether  his  loss  of  gospel  liberties, 
or  his  violent  bodily  distemper,  was  the  greater 
affliction  to  him.  His  riding  about  six  or  seven 
miles,  in  the  year  1675,  rendered  his  pain 
scarcely  tolerable.  Thus  he  writes  : — "  I  have 
now  this  last  ill  fit  discovered  more  of  the  cause 
of  it  than  ever  before.  I  am  very  confident  it 
is  not  the  stone.  Want  of  health  and  liberty, 
believe  me,  are  two  sore  evils.  I  hope  you 
will  particularly  help  me  with  your  prayers  for 
direction  as  to  health,  but  more  especially  as  to 
restoration  of  liberty  in  my  beloved  work  ;  the 
loss  of  which  is  a  greater  grief  than  the  want 
of  health  and  ease." 

In  another  letter,  dated  July  loth,  1676,  he 


272  LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

saith,  "  I  have  endured  extreme  pain  and  tor- 
ment for  a  month  together.  The  pain  made  me 
roar  and  tremble,  and  so  shrunk  my  flesh,  and 
weakened  my  body,  that  I  apprehended  death 
to  be  approaching.  The  good  Lord  fit  and  pre- 
pare me  for  it,  and  account  me  worthy  to  find 
mercy  in  that  time  of  need  !  My  pain  was  oc- 
casioned by  the  great  heat,  and  preaching  that 
hot  weather  oftener  and  longer  than  I  was  well 
able.  I  am  sure  that  I  have  the  greatest  reason 
to  submit  to  his  holy  will,  yea,  and  be  thankful 
also,  that  though  he  hath  afflicted  me  very  sore, 
yet  he  hath  not  given  me  over  to  death  ;  whereas 
I  hear  of  many  that  are  dead  of  late  of  my  dis- 
temper :  Bishop  Wilkins,  cousin  John  Cromp- 
ton,  and  several  hereabouts,  within  these  two 
months,  I  beg  your  prayers,  that  if  God  spare 
my  life,  he  would  also  give  health  and  liberty 
to  improve  it  in  his  service,  more  publicly  and 
fruitfully;  or  if  it  be  death,  (which  will  be  less 
unwelcome,  because  of  my  restraints,  pangs, 
and  troubles  in  this  world,  only  my  wife  and 
children  make  the  thoughts  of  it  burdensome,) 
may  God  be  glorified.  I  hope  it  will  be  my 
advantage.  I  wish  neither  you  nor  any  faithful 
minister,  that  minds  and  loves  his  work,  may 
ever  know  what  I  have  felt  in  the  want  of  people 
and  work.  Other  afflictions  are  light,  compared 
to  a  dumb  mouth  and  silent  Sabbaths." 

Yet,  notwithstanding  all  this  affliction,  he  had 
a  great  desire,  once  again,  if  it  were  the  will  of 
God,  to  visit  his  friends  in  Yorkshire :  and  God 
was  pleased  to  grant  his  request ;  for  he  gave 


LIFE    OF    XATHAXAEL     HEYWOOD.  273 

him  some  mitigation  of  his  pain,  which  was  an 
encouragement  to  undertake  that  journey;  so 
himself,  his  wife,  and  his  two  sons  travelled 
into  Yorkshire,  April  20th,  1677.  There  he 
preached  the  sermons  that  are  since  printed ; 
and  another  most  excellent  and  pathetical  ser- 
mon upon  Romans  v,  8,  From  thence  he  sent 
his  eldest  son  to  be  trained  up  in  academical 
learning,  with  Mr.  Frankland,  at  Xatland,  in 
Westmoreland.  But  O  what  affectionate  part- 
ing was  there  I  as  if  they  must  never  see  one 
another's  faces  again.  And  indeed  so  it  proved. 
They  could  not  speak  to  each  other,  for  weep- 
ing and  sobbing.  He  desired  another  to  pray; 
for  he  could  not  refrain.  In  that  journey  he  was 
carried  out  beyond  himself  in  praying,  preach- 
ing, discoursing,  to  the  admiration  and  edifica- 
tion of  all  his  ancient  friends  in  those  parts, 
though  he  had  frequent  returns  of  his  wonted 
pain.  He  was  as  a  man  coming  down  from 
heaven  to  tell  what  is  done  there  ;  or  as  one 
ripe  for  heaven,  too  big  for  earth,  upon  the  wing 
to  take  his  flight  into  those  mansions  above ;  as 
indeed  it  proved. 

After  he  had  done  his  work  which  he  design- 
ed in  those  parts,  he  left  Yorkshire  on  May  1st, 
1677  ;  but  could  reach  that  day  only  ten  miles. 
The  next  morning  he  went  to  Rochdale.  He 
was  forcibly  detained  by  the  importunity  of 
Christian  friends,  and  preached  there  that  eve- 
ning, though  greatly  to  his  prejudice  as  to  health  : 
the  day  following  he  reached  Bolton  ;  yet, 
saith  he,  with  great  difficulty  and  hard  hewing, 
18 


274  LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

they  got  home  on  Friday  night ;  and  it  would 
have  been  a  great  inconvenience  to  have  stayed 
one  day  longer  on  several  accounts,  which  he 
mentions.  Thus  God  carried  him  abroad  in 
mercy,  and  brought  him  seasonably  back  to  his 
own  house  in  safety. 

How  much  he  was  satisfied  with  this  journey, 
(though  his  pains  were  extreme  several  days 
after  his  return  home,)  his  letter,  May  14th, 
1677,  testifies.  "The  great  mercy,"  saith  he, 
"in  my  late  journey  to  you,  comforts  with  you, 
and  safe  return  home,  (where  we  found  all  well,) 
I  hope  I  shall  never  forget.  Pray  help  me  to 
be  thankful  for  them.  I  do  heartily  thank  you 
for  all  your  pulpit,  table,  house,  and  country 
kindness.  I  am  sorry  and  ashamed  that  I  made 
no  better  improvement  of  them,  not  knowing 
that  ever  I  shall  enjoy  such  opportunities 
again  of  doing  myself  and  others  good  in  your 
parts  ;  but  an  indisposed  body,  and  a  bad  heart, 
mar  duties  and  waste  mercies." 

His  distemper  still  prevailed  upon  him  all 
that  summer.  In  a  letter,  dated  September, 
20th,  1677,  he  saith  :  "  I  am  far  from  being 
well ;  and  as  the  church  once  complained  that 
she  forgot  prosperity,  so  I  health ;  and  am 
ready  sometimes  to  add,  as  she,  '  My  strength 
and  my  hope  are  perished  from  the  Lord.' 
This  day  five  weeks  I  came  from  the  exercise 
at  Toxteth  park,  where  I  had  preached  twice, 
and  oftener  than  I  was  well  able  a  little  before. 
Since  that  day  I  never  came  on  horseback,  nor 
preached  but  once  near  home  ;  but  all  this  time 


LIFE    OF    XATHAXAEL    HEYWOOD.  275 

God  hath  been  preaching  to  me  with  a  terrible 
thundering  voice.  O  that  I  could  hear  the  rod, 
and  who  hath  appointed  it !  So  sharp  and  so 
long"  a  fit  of  pain  I  never  had  since  this  distem- 
per began.  God  alone  knows  what  may  be  the 
issue  of  it ;  but  for  my  part,  though  I  find  it  no 
easy  matter  to  look  death  in  the  face,  and  con- 
quer the  difficulties  that  precede  and  attend  it, 
yet  I  have  no  great  reason  to  love  life,  or  to  de- 
sire my  long  stay  in  this  wicked  weary  world. 
My  pained  days  and  wearisome  nights  make 
thoughts  of  death  and  the  grave  less  terrible,  and 
apprehensions  of  rest  with  Christ  most  wel- 
come and  pleasant.  But  I  feel  natural  inclina- 
tions working  toward  life,  and  to  loving  them- 
selves with  the  fair  glass  of  doing  God  more  and 
better  service  in  his  church .  I  am  best  resolved, 
and  most  at  anchor,  when  I  can  (but  O  how  sel- 
dom !  how  coldly  I  do  I)  say,  '  The  will  of  the 
Lord  be  done.'  Dear  brother,  pray  for  me,  (as 
I  would  do  for  myself,)  that  to  me  to  live  may 
be  Christ,  and  to  die,  gain.  Yesterday  for 
some  hours  I  was  in  extreme  torment,  but  am 
much  easier,  I  bless  God,  to-day  ;  but  my  pain 
is  not  in  the  same  manner  as  formerly,  but  hke 
an  ulcer  in  the  bladder,  which  makes  my  disease 
more  dangerous  as  well  as  painful.  It  is  the 
Lord's  mercy  that  I  am  not  utterly  consumed,  that 
I  can  sit  thus  long  to  write  to  you,  which  many 
times  I  cannot  ;  but  I  am  now  weary  with  it." 

The  last  letter  (so  far  as  I  can  find)  was  by 
him  dated  October  23d,  1677,  which  I  shall 
mostly  transcribe  : — 


276  LIFE    OF    NATHANA£L    HEVWOOD. 

**  My  dear  Brother, — This  evening  I  re- 
ceived yours,  for  which  I  thank  you.  It  breathes 
nothing  but  love  and  comfort  to  me.  O  how 
sweet !  how  seasonable  !  iove  in  you,  O  how 
tender  !  Especially  I  thank  you  for  your  pray- 
ers, and  the  prayers  of  others  by  your  means. 
I  account  them  a  precious  treasure,  and  the 
surest  and  speediest  remedy  in  ail  troubles.  0 
pray  again  !  Who  knows  but  that  may  prevail 
when  nothing  else  can.  [  have  been  sensibly 
better  since  that  day  of  your  tears  and  groans. 
But  who  am  I  that  any  should  be  concerned  for 
me  1  a  poor,  weak,  useless  wretch,  nothing,  and 
loss  than  nothing.  I  have  been  long,  in  regard 
of  work,  in  God's  vineyard,  a  withered  branch, 
a  dry  stick  ;  and  now  my  body  is  withered  like 
the  grass,  my  skin  parched,  my  moisture  dried 
up  through  extremity  of  pain,  which  hath  con- 
tinued nine  or  ten  weeks,  day  and  night. 
About  a  month  ago,  friends  seeing  death  in  my 
face  and  looks,  they  prevailed  with  me  to  send 
for  Dr.  Grundy,  who  found  me  in  a  languishing 
condition,  yet  not  without  some  hope.  He  told 
me,  my  distemper  was  not  the  stone,  nor  ulcer 
in  the  bladder,  (which  I  feared  because  of  my 
sharp  pains  and  soreness,)  but  a  dysury ;  my 
blood  was  vitiated ;  my  moisture  sour ;  and 
there  wanted  due  separation  of  the  serum  from 
the  blood  ;  that  it  would  require  much  time  and 
patience  to  bring  the  body  to  a  good  state,  &c. 
For  since  I  have  been  taking  one  sort  or  other 
of  physic  :  and  am  now  taking  a  diet-drink  for 
the  scurvy,  which  I  think  hath  done  me  most 


LIFE    OF    NATHAN'AEL    HEYWOOD.  277 

good ;  but  still  my  pain  continues,  though  not 
altogether  so  acute  as  at  the  first.  But  I  have 
very  weary,  restless  nights  :  many  times  I  am 
constrained  to  get  up,  and  walk  two  or  three 
hours.  But  God  supp)orts;  his  word  comforts 
in  all,  and  over  all ;  his  ways  are  mercy  and 
truth  ;  it  is  his  mercy  that  I  am  not  consumed  ; 
yea,  it  is  mercy  and  faithfulness  that  I  am 
afflicted.  I  have  reason  to  say,  I  could  not 
have  been  without  it ;  nay,  I  would  not  have 
been  without  this  trial  for  an  earthly  kingdom. 
If  God  please  to  spare  my  life,  and  restore 
strength,  I  hope  others  will  find  that  I  have 
gained  considerably  by  this  seasonable  adven- 
ture. 

"  I  am  your  indebted  and  endeared  brother, 
N.  He V WOOD." 

His  distempers,  growing  thus  upon  him  gra- 
dually, wore  away  and  weakened  his  bodv,  and 
took  out  the  pins  and  plucked  down  the  stakes 
of  his  frail  tabernacle.  He  wore  away  insen- 
sibly :  his  friends,  seeinor  he  had  strength  to 
walk,  did  not  apprehend  his  end  so  near  as  in- 
deed it  proved.  On  Thursday,  December  1 3th, 
1677,  they  perceived  him  to  alter,  and  grow 
something  w^orse  than  he  had  been,  not  so 
much  in  the  violence  of  pain  as  in  the  decay 
of  spirits,  and  fallinof  into  drowsiness  and  slum- 
berinir.  That  very  day  he  said,  with  tears  run- 
ning down  his  face,  that  he  could  \Aillinorly  die 
if  it  Avere  the  next  hour,  but  for  the  good  of  the 
church   and  his  poor  wife  and  children  ;  and 


278  LIFE    OF    NATHAXAEL    HEYWOOD, 

with  them  he  could  be  content  to  live,  were  it 
in  prison.  That  night,  being  ready  to  go  to 
bed,  he  sat  down  in  his  chair,  and  looking  up 
toward  heaven,  moved  his  eyes  very  much. 
His  wife  asked  him,  how^  he  did :  he  could  not 
answer,  as  she  supposed;  but  soon  after  he 
said  he  would  go  to  bed.  Being  got  to  bed, 
he  fell  into  the  like  trance,  and  lay  for  a  while 
speechless.  Being  better,  he  looked  about  him, 
and  saw  them  weeping,  and  said,  "  If  you 
knew  Christ  better,  this  carnal  affection  would 
cease,  and  natural  would  be  sanctified,  and  run 
in  a  spiritual  channel.  O  learn  to  know  Christ 
more  !  For  my  own  part  I  have  preached  Christ 
all  my  life,  and,  I  bless  God,  with  good  success. 
It  is  common  with  many  now-a-days  to  have 
base  and  low  thoughts  of  Christ ;  but  if  I  had 
twenty  lives  to  live,  I  would  spend  them  all  in 
his  work." 

On  Friday  a  kinsman  that  was  come  from 
London  visited  him,  but  he  was  so  weak  and 
listless  that  he  was  very  unfit  for  converse  ; 
and  indeed  at  the  best  he  was  sparing  in  dis- 
course. He  used  to  speak  little  ;  but  what  he 
spake  was  very  pithy,  pertinent,  and  senten- 
tious. 

On  Saturday  night,  Mr.  Starky,  a  reverend 
and  godly  minister,  visited  him.  He  asked  him 
whether  it  was  any  trouble  to  him  that  he  did 
not  conform.  He  answered,  "  No  ;  it  is  a  great 
comfort  to  me."  This  he  spoke  with  much 
cheerfulness,  adding  some  more  words  to  evi- 
dence his  satisfaction  in  what  he  had  done  and 


LIFE    OF    NATHAXAEL    HEY  WOOD.  279 

suffered.  Mr.  Starky  asked  him  what  promises 
he  could  now  rely  upon,  or  what  Scripture  pas- 
sages supported  him.  He  answered,  "  For  me 
to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain,"  Phil,  i,  21. 
"  Christ  hath  loved  me,  and  given  himself  for 
me,"  Gal.  ii,  20.  He  was  frequently  repeat- 
ing those  words,  "  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come 
quickly." 

About  four  hours  before  he  died,  being  asked 
how  he  did,  he  answered,  "  Very  well."  His 
last  words  that  he  was  heard  to  utter  were, 
"  Come  away,  Lord,  come,  come !"  and  so  he 
breathed  out  his  soul  on  the  Lord's  day  morning, 
December  16th,  1677,  about  nine  o'clock;  so 
God  made  the  day  of  his  hard  and  sore  labour 
the  day  of  his  entrance  into  his  eternal  rest. 


CHAPTER  V 

It  is  worthy  of  observation,  that  God  hath 
drawn  off  many  eminent  ministers  and  choice 
Christians  from  the  stage  of  this  world,  near  or 
upon  that  day.  This  holy  day  of  heavenly  rest 
halh  commenced  upon  them  the  everlasting  day 
of  rest  in  heaven.  They  parted  with  this  jarring 
music  on  earth,  to  be  joined  to  that  celestial 
choir  above.  This  our  brother  often  made 
melody  in  his  heart,  thou^li  he  was  not  very 
tunable  in  his  voice  below  :  now  the  high  praises 
of  God  are  sounded  l)y  him,  and  at  the  great  day, 


280.  LIFE    OF   NATHA>JAEL   HEY  WOOD. 

soul  and  body  shall  make  a  melodious  concert 
in  that  blessed  harmony. 

And  now  this  holy,  learned,  industrious  man 
of  God  is  advanced  above  guilt,  corruption, 
temptation,  and  persecution,  pains  of  body,  fears 
of  spirit,  disturbances  in  God's  worship,  impri- 
sonments, confiscations,  banishments.  O  what 
a  blessed  state  have  they  above  taken  posses- 
sion of!  Happy  souls,  that  are  safely  lodged  in 
the  arms  of  their  Redeemer! 

As  for  the  interment,  it  was  judged  meet  that 
this  solemnity  should  be  put  off  till  Wednesday, 
December  19th,  1677,  that  distant  friends  might 
have  seasonable  notice ;  and  on  that  day  Mr. 
Starky,  a  nonconformist  minister,  preached  an 
excellent  sermon  in  the  parish  church  at  Orms- 
kirk  (no  man  forbidding  him  ;  nay,  all  that  were 
any  way  concerned  consenting)  upon  Golossians 
iii,  4  :  "  When  Ghrist,  who  is  our  life,  shall 
appear,  then  shall  ye  also  appear  with  him  in 
glory."  There  was  a  vast  confluence  of  all  sorts 
of  people  at  his  funeral,  great  lamentation,  and 
there  were  many  signal  demonstrations  of  uni- 
versal love  and  respect,  which  he  had  from  all 
the  country.  His  body  was  laid  in  the  chancel, 
and  burying  place  which  belongs  to  the  ancient 
i^imily  of  Stanleys,  of  Bickerstaff,  knights  and 
baronets,  with  their  free  consent  and  desire. 
The  reverend  minister  that  preached,  after  he 
had  acutely,  learnedly,  and  profitably  handled 
his  text,  gave  a  short  but  full  account  of  him, 
in  his  several  capacities,  as  minister,  husband, 
father,   friend,  and  especially  as  a  Christian. 


LIFK    OF   XATHAXAEL    HEY  WOOD.  281 

And  as  the  echoes  of  the  hearers  gave  testi- 
mony to  the  truth  of  what  was  spoken,  so  to 
their  sad  resentment  of  their  irreparable  loss  ; 
all  the  town,  in  their  several  capacities,  doing 
him  honour  in  their  peculiar  way.  Mr.  Con- 
stable (the  chief  officer  in  the  town,  of  consider- 
able authority)  carried  the  staff  (like  a  mace) 
before  the  corpse ;  and  the  rest  walked  in  their 
due  and  decent  order. 

Now  although  this  was  insignificant  to  the 
dead,  and  not  edifying  much  to  the  living,  yet 
decent  burials  have  always,  among  civilized 
nations,  been  accounted  the  duty  of  the  living, 
and  an  honour  to  the  dead.  This  good  man 
honoured  God  while  living,  and  God  honoured 
him  at  his  death,  and  advanced  his  soul  to  bet- 
ter and  eternal  honour. 

Mr.  Heywood  went  to  his  grave  in  peace, 
after  all  his  tumnhuous  tossings  upon  the  tem- 
pestuous sea  of  this  world.  He  died  in  the 
forty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  having  lived  long  in 
a  little  time.  1  find  several  choice  men  taken 
out  of  the  world  about  that  age.  The  famous 
Dr.  Whitaker  died  in  his  forty-seventh  year ; 
and  our  famous  Mr.  William  Perkins  lived  but 
forty-four  years,  being  cut  off  by  a  violent  fit  of 
the  stone. 

And  indeed  we  have  frequently  observed,  that 
laborious  ministers  are  short-lived.  Some  are 
of  weak  constitutions,  and  spend  their  lungs 
with  speaking  ;  or  by  a  sedentary  life  contract 
diseases,  or  are  fretted  Avith  the  uniowardness 
of  their  people ;  or  God  in  judgment  takes  them 


283  LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

away  as  a  punishment  to  a  wicked  world.  How- 
ever, like  a  candle,  they  spend  themselves  to 
give  light  to  others.  Many  young  men  are  very 
zealous,  and  make  haste  with  their  work,  and 
get  it  quickly  despatched,  and  go  to  rest  be- 
times. O,  how^  many  promising  plants  have 
been  plucked  up  of  late  years,  that  were  laden 
with  choice  fruit ;  while  some  withered  trees, 
barren  and  fruitless,  still  stand  cumbering  the 
ground !  But  the  sovereign  Lord  knows  what 
is  fittest,  and  doeth  all  things  well. 

A  little  while  before  Mr.  Hey  wood  died,  he 
said  to  a  friend,  ''  1  think  this  turning  out  of  our 
licensed  places  will  cost  Mr.  Yates  and  me  our 
lives.  O  this  goes  heavily  !  Our  casting  out  of 
our  great  places  was  not  so  much  as  casting  us 
out  of  our  little  places."  And,  indeed,  Mr.  Yates, 
of  Warrington,  died  shortly  after 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Having  thus  given  a  brief  account  of  Mr. 
Heywood's  birth,  life,  employment,  and  death, 
I  shall  select  some  few  characters  of  him, 
imitable  by  his  surviving  brethren,  friends,  and 
hearers;  for  the  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed; 
and  possibly  generations  yet  to  come  may  reap 
benefit  from  what  thoy  find  recorded  of  him. 
I  dare  appeal  to  the  God  of  truth,  that  searcheth 
hearts,  that  the  description  I  shall  give  of  him 


LIFi:    OF    XATHAXAEL    HEYWOOD.  283 

is  true,  which  I  have  by  personal  knowledge  or 
credible  testimony. 

1.  As  to  his  proportion,  physiognomy,  and 
constitution,  these  were  comely  enough:  no 
part  was  lacking,  crooked,  or  deformed.  He 
was  tall  and  straight;  had  blackish  curled  hair; 
not  fat,  nor  very  lean,  yet  fatter  in  his  body  than 
he  seemed  by  his  face  ;  of  a  healthful  constitu- 
tion mostly  after  he  was  past  his  childhood  ; 
which  might  have  continued  long,  had  not  the 
vessel  been  cracked  by  impetuous  dashings. 
His  over  driving  took  off  the  chariot-wheels  ; 
for  all  agreed  that  his  excessive  pains  laid  the 
foundation  of  those  diseases  that  at  last  wasted 
his  spirits.  He  was  an  excellent  footman,  and 
could  walk  both  fast  and  far  ;  and  in  his  last 
distemper  walked  much,  and  found  most  ease 
therein.  In  his  best  health  he  was  an  extraor- 
dinary sweater,  especially  in  his  preaching;  his 
sweat  hath  dropped  at  his  hair-ends,  and  wet 
his  band  all  over.  Letters  were  wet  in  his 
pocket  through  the  linings,  as  if  put  in  water. 
It  may  be  that  sweating  was  some  advantage  to 
him  ;  and  that  when  he  could  not  take  that  pains 
to  sweat,  and  thereby  evaporate  those  humours, 
they  might  settle,  and  gather  into  acute  diseases. 
Yet  want  of  leisurely  cooling  might  prejudice 
him.  Once  old  Mr.  Woods  and  he  preached 
an  exercise  in  a  chapel  in  a  hot  summer-day. 
The  number  of  people  v%"as  too  many  to  come 
within  hearing.  .Mr.  Heywood  having  preached 
iirst,  Mr.  Woods  Vvilhdrew  the  assembly  into  a 
large  field,  where  that  excellent,  solid,  laborious 


284  LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

man  of  God  preached  under  a  shady  tree  ;  Mr. 
Heywood,  sitting  in  a  chair,  got  an  extreme  cold, 
which  cost  him  dear  afterward. 

2.  As  to  his  disposition,  he  was  naturally 
choleric,  being  of  a  sanguine  complexion  ;  but 
such  was  the  predominance  of  grace  that  it  did 
very  little  appear  in  him,  being  regulated  and 
rectified  with  that  corrective  of  God's  fear,  which 
turned  his  natural  constitution  into  a  spiritual 
channel,  and  put  a  due  bias  into  it.  He  was 
much  transported  in  the  affection  of  love,  where 
reason  dictated  a  discovery  of  the  loveliness  of 
the  object,  both  in  spiritual  and  natural  things. 
In  his  younger  days  he  was  judged  to  be  in- 
clined to  melancholy,  sitting  sometimes  silent, 
and  poring  upon  something ;  and  so  he  Avas  in 
his  last  distemper.  Yet  at  times  he  was  very 
cheerful  and  facetious  ;  and  this  (with  recre- 
ating himself  with  his  children)  was  all  the  re- 
creation that  he  used  for  many  years.  He  was 
indeed  wonderfully  witty  and  ingenious  when 
he  slacked  the  strings  a  little,  and  applied  him- 
self that  way,  which  was  very  rarely;  his  mind 
being  ordinarily  intent  upon  more  necessary 
business  in  his  study,  or  soul  concerns. 

3.  As  to  his  entrance  into  the  ministry,  and 
his  judgment  in  ecclesiasiical  points,  he  was 
(according  to  his  education)  a  strict  presbyte- 
rian,  avoiding  prelatical  authority  on  the  one 
hand, .  and  congregational  democracy  on  the 
other.  Upon  his  first  settling  at  Ormskirk,  he 
presently  applied  himself  to  the  ministers  of 
that  class  in  that  division  where  God  had  cast 


LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD.  285 

his  lot ;  and  after  trial  and  approbation  of  his 
ministerial  abilities,  learning,  and  fitness  for 
that  place,  consent  of  the  people  expressed,  he 
was  solemnly  set  apart  by  fasting  and  prayer, 
and  imposition  of  hands,  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  in  a  public  congregation,  to  the  great 
satisfaction  of  all  that  were  concerned.  The 
reverend  ministers  that  laid  hands  on  him  were 
Mr.  Thomas  Johnson,  of  Halsall ;  Mr.  Thomp- 
son, of  Sefton;  Mr.  Edward  Gee,  of  Eccleston; 
Mr.  Bell,  of  Highton;  all  worthy,  eminent  men, 
and  some  others. 

4.  As  to  his  ministerial  labours,  I  shall  add 
little  to  what  hath  been  said.  He  willingly  was 
spent  in  the  service  oi'  his  Lord  and  Master. 
He  prayed  and  wept,  preached  and  sweated,  in 
public  and  private,  in  season  and  out  of  season ; 
he  constantly  preached  twice  a  day,  catechised, 
exhorting,  admonishing  with  all  long-suffering. 
He  was  much  in  spending  days  in  solemn  fast- 
ing and  prayer  with  Christian  friends  in  his 
parish  and  elsewhere.  He  loved  and  delighted 
in  the  communion  of  saints;  so  that  those  few 
Christians  in  those  parts  lamentably  bewail  the 
loss  of  him  as  their  pastor  and  leader,  their 
prompter  to,  and  helper  in,  those  spiritual  exer- 
cises. His  heart  was  set  to  do  good  to  all,  but 
his  delight  was  in  God's  children.  He  refused 
not  to  come  and  visit  the  poorest  and  wickedest, 
that  either  sent  for  him,  or  that  he  judged  would 
make  him  welcome,  or  where  he  had  any  hopes 
of  doing  good.  He  was  diligent  in  visiting  the 
sick,  and  took  great  pains  with  the  ignorant. 


286  LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYAVOOD. 

procuring  catechisms  for  them  that  were  willing 
to  learn,  instructing  them,  and  using  ingenious 
artifices  to  bring  them  into  a  love  of  religion, 
and  engaging  young  people  to  learn. 

5.  He  was  exceedingly  meek  and  patient,  not 
only  in  bearing  his  bodily  pains  with  an  invin- 
cible spirit;  but  enduring  the  aifronts,  reproaches, 
and  various  indignities  that  Vv'cre  offered  him, 
with  a  heroic  cheerfulness  ;  yea,  he  gloried  in 
them  as  the  afflictions  of  Christ;  his  spirit  was 
so  sweetly  calmed  that  none  ever  heard  him 
revile  or  speak  evil  of  the  instruments,  but  many 
have  heard  him  pity  and  pray  for  them.  It  is 
true,  his  spirit  was  sometimes  so  disturbed  that 
he  would  dream  of  them,  and  mention  them  in 
his  sleep  ;  but  still  he  bore  a  compassionate 
heart  toward  them,  and  would  often  bewail  their 
condition  :  though  some  of  the  townsmen,  and 
others,  thought  some  prosecutions  were  mali- 
cious and  unreasonable,  not  fit  to  be  named, 
yet  he  freely  forgave  all,  as  an  offence  against 
himself,  and  affectionately  prayed  for  their  re- 
pentance, and  the  pardon  of  their  sin  against 
God  ;  often  saying,  "  If  this  be  the  worst  they 
can  do,  we  shall  shift  well  enough."  He  had 
in  some  considerable  degree  learned  that  hard 
lesson  our  Lord  teacheth,  Matthew  v,  44 :  "  But 
I  say  unto  you.  Love  your  enemies,  bless  them 
that  curse  you,  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you, 
and  pray  for  them  which  despitefully  use  you, 
and  persecute  you."  This  is  a  great  height  of 
true  Christianity,  to  do  good,  and  bear  evil,  bear 
our  cross,  and  follow  Christ  with  patience  and 
self-denial. 


LIFE    OF    N'ATHAXAEL    HEYWOOD.  287 

6.  He  was  very  faithful  to  his  friends,  and 
looked  upon  the  bond  of  friendship  as  sacred 
and  not  to  be  violated,  whether  in  the  business 
of  counselling,  and  keeping  secrets,  or  preserv- 
ing and  performing  the  trust  reposed  in  him  ; 
and  this  was  not  small,  nor  from  persons  incon- 
siderable, and  this  upon  several  accounts  ;  put- 
ting himself  to  much  cost,  many  troubles,  and 
some  inconveniences,  rather  than  seem  by  negli- 
gence to  falsify  his  word,  or  in  any  respect  to 
fail  of  his  duty.  It  was  conscience  of  his  duty 
ioward  God  that  awed  his  spirit  in  those  cases 
wherein  no  mortal  could  detect  or  punish  him 
for  neglect.  He  was  marvellously  obliging  in 
his  deportment ;  very  taking  in  his  discourse, 
with  such  as  he  could  be  free  with,  instructing 
the  ignorant,  indulging  the  impotent ;  by  words 
or  carriage  manifesting  his  dislike  of  sin,  but 
encouraging  those  that  discovered  any  sparks 
of  true  piety,  however  they  might  differ  from 
him  in  some  things  ;  for  he  was  of  a  catholic 
spirit. 

7.  He  was  very  humble  and  self-denying, 
which  was  the  ornament  of  all  his  other  graces 
and  eminent  qualifications  :  this  indeed  was  his 
master-piece.  He  had  always  very  mean  thoughts 
of  himself,  and  of  his  own  undertakings,  dis- 
liking others'  commendations  of  him ;  which 
indeed  were  to  him  like  a  thunderbolt,  as  the 
German  divine  said  of  men's  praises  ;  yea,  he 
would  even  cover  his  face  with  shame,  and 
modestly  blush  when  any  spoke  well  of  him. 
His  maxim  was  rather  to  be,  than  seem,  good ; 


288  LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

not  affecting  triumphs,  but  approving  his  heart 
to  God;  being  more  pleased  with  God's  gracious 
acceptance,  and  the  consciousness  of  his  own 
integrity,  than  affecting  the  favour  of  great  ones 
or  the  applause  of  the  vulgar  :  though  there  was 
scarcely  any  minister  that  had  such  general  ap- 
probation, or  flocking  after  him  ;  yet  his  spirit 
was  not  lifted  up  therewith.  In  him  was  verified 
the  observation,  that  honour  is  like  a  shadow, 
which,  being  pursued,  flies  away;  and  the  more 
a  man  flies  from  it,  the  more  it  follows  him. 
He  could  never  be  persuaded  to  print  any  of  his 
labours,  though  he  was  often  solicited  thereto; 
for  he  judged  nothing  that  he  did  worth  exposing 
to  public  view;  he  so  far  disliked  the  humour 
of  ostentation  that  he  abstained  from  doing  that 
which  might  have  been  profitable  to  the  church. 
Though  his  sermons  were  elaborate  and  accu- 
rate, yet  very  pathetic al,  which  he  desired  to 
be  conveyed  only  to  the  ears  and  hearts  of  his 
hearers.  His  modesty  locked  up  his  lips  in 
company,  unless  he  had  a  just  call  to  speak  ; 
and  he  spoke  with  great  judgment,  and  as  much 
humility  and  submission  to  better  judgments, 
but  always  with  great  advantage  to  his  hearers. 
He  w^as  mild  in  his  censures,  and  spoke  well 
of  others'  well-meaning  undertakings.  He  com- 
mended all  that  in  any  thing  were  praiseworthy, 
and  envied  them  not  that  honour  which  was  due 
to  them. 

8.  He  was  much  and  mighty  in  prayer.  He 
had  an  excellent  gift  in  confessing  sin,  peti- 
tioning for  mercy,  and  thankfulness  to  God  for 


LIFE    OF    NATHAXAEL    HEYWOOD.  289 

mercies  received.  He  did  with  apt  and  pro- 
per Scripture  expressions  wrestle  with  God  in 
prayer.  0  how  frequently  and  fervently  did 
he  pour  out  his  soul  to  the  Lord  with  sighs 
and  groans,  strong  cries  and  tears !  He  had 
a  large  measure  oi'  the  Spirit  of  adoption,  and 
was  usually  large,  and  much  enlarged  in  that 
duty,  especially  upon  extraordinary  occasions. 
Though  he  had  long  used  to  go  to  God  alone, 
yet  in  his  last  sickness  he  was  more  abundant 
in  closet  prayer.  His  wife  and  children,  coming 
to  him,  have  often  found  him  upon  his  knees. 
And  the  Lord  gave  many  signal  impressions 
upon  his  spirit,  and  remarkable  returns  of  his 
prayers.  Many  years  ago,  when  his  wife  was 
dangerously  sick  at  Godley,  in  Yorkshire,  nigh 
to  death,  he  told  her  she  must  not  die  at  that 
time.  She  demanded  of  him  why  he  thought 
so.  He  answered,  "  Because  my  heart  is  much 
enlarged  in  prayer  to  beg  for  thy  life  ;"  accord- 
ingly God  raised  her  up  at  that  tim.e.  And  he 
hath  often  taken  notice  of  the  frame  of  his  spirit 
in  prayer  for  several  sick  persons  ;  and  hath 
taken  his  measures  from  his  straitness  or  his 
enlargedness,  and  it  hath  often  proved  suitable 
to  his  presages. 

9.  He  had  a  great  measure  of  faith,  both  as  to 
spiritual  concerns  and  temporal  affairs.  As  to 
the  former,  grace  had  helped  him  in  soul-troubles 
to  trust  God  in  the  way  of  a  promise,  and  at  last 
buoyed  up  his  faith  into  a  full  assurance.  As  to 
the  latter,  he  was  trained  up  in  the  life  of  faith 
many  years  ;  a  wife  and  nine  small  children, 
19 


i.90  LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

ht  i\g  turned  out  of  all,  having  nothing  before- 
hand, and  knowing  not  in  an  ordinary  rational 
way  where  his  subsistence  must  arise  :  this  put 
his  faith  hard  to  it ;  yet  committing  his  all  into 
God's  hands,  he  was  strangely  supplied,  as  if 
he  had  been  fed  by  ravens,  or  as  Israel  in  the 
wilderness.  **  0  man,  great  was  thy  faith !" 
O  Lord,  great  was  thy  bounty  I  It  is  true,  he 
was  often  afraid  of  discontent  and  murmuring, 
but  plucked  up  his  spirit,  saying  to  his  wife, 
"  Let  us  pray,  and  wait  on  God ;  he  never 
failed  us  yet ;  come,  let  us  trust  him."  This 
he  spoke  with  great  alacrity;  and  he  often  took 
notice,  that,  at  a  pinch,  God  sent  a  seasonable 
supply  by  unexpected  means.  Help  came  in 
so  strangely  that  he  resolved  to  set  down  punc- 
tually what  he  had  received,  and  of  whom.  He 
said  once  to  a  friend,  "  I  cannot  but  wonder 
how  God  sends  in  money  just  as  I  need  it.  He 
drops  it  into  my  hand  by  sixpences  and  shillings 
most  seasonably:  and  the  review  of  these  ex- 
periments much  strengthens  my  faith,  and  en- 
gages me  to  thankfulness."  This  course  he 
had  taken  for  above  twelve  years,  and  advised 
his  friend  to  the  same  course.  From  his  mul- 
liplied  experiments,  he  gathered  great  encou- 
ragements. He  often  wondered  at  the  unac- 
countable provision  which  Gt^d  made  for  liim 
and  his, 

!<),  He  was  of  a  loving,  peaceable  frame, 
much  addicted  to  peace.  He  was  not  willing 
to  fall  out  with  any :  and  it  was  strange  if  any 
fell  out  with  him  ^  for  he  gave  not  any  just  oc- 


LIFE    OF    NATHAXAEL    HEYWOOD.  291 

casion  at  anytime.  Testimonies  and  instances 
might  be  produced  wherein  he  complied  to  the 
utmost  extent  of  what  he  judged  lawful,  to 
avoid  giving  any  offence  ;  and  sometimes  re- 
ceded from  his  right,  for  peace'  sake.  It  is 
true,  he  was  a  man  of  contention,  as  the  Prophet 
Jeremiah  was  ;  but  it  was  his  grief,  and  made 
him  cry,  '•  Wo  is  me  !"  and  besides,  it  was 
rather  passively  than  actively  that  he  was  so. 
Men  contended  with  him,  rather  than  he  with 
them  ;  and  it  vras  in  the  matters  of  his  God 
and  conscience  ;  and  he  was  resolved  rather  to 
obey  and  please  God  than  men.  In  this  he  was 
as  a  eturdy  oak  ;  in  other  matters,  a  bending 
ozier.  If  at  anytime  he  was  angry  with  others, 
anger  did  not  ferment  into  malice,  or  long  rest 
in  his  bosom  ;  he  sought  reconciliation  with 
them  ;  and  if  any  had  taken  offence  at  him,  he 
sought  to  win  them  by  loving  means,  and 
methods  of  kindness.  He  was  not  only  a  peace- 
maker, reconciling  neighbours  that  were  at 
distance  ;  not  by  sitting  with  them  in  the  ale- 
house, (as  the  manner  of  some  is,)  but  by  Chris- 
tian advice,  counsel,  prayers  ;  healing  differ- 
ences in  God's  way.  He  preached  an  excellent 
sermon  upon  mutual  love,  from  Eph.  v,  2 ;  an 
excellent  duty  from  an  excellent  pattern  ;  dis- 
covering a  spirit  full  of  gentleness,  sobriety, 
moderation.  He  sought  to  calm  men's  minds, 
and  lay  the  wind  of  passion,  that  the  word 
might  take  place  ;  "  for  the  fruit  of  righteous- 
ness is  sown  in  peace  of  them  that  make  peace," 
James  iii,  18. 


292         LIFE    OF  NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

11.  But  though  he  was  of  a  peaceable  spirit 
to  condescend  to  any  thing  lawful  for  peace' 
sake,  yet  not  so  flexible  as  to  recede  a  hair's 
breadth  from  truth,  or  well-fixed  principles.  He 
was  an  attractive  loadstone,  yet  an  inflexible 
adamant  in  the  cause  of  God.  He  well  under- 
stood his  own  latitude  ;  and  as  he  would  not 
groundlessly  withdraw  by  wanton  curiosity,  so 
he  would  not  be  led  aside  into  sin  to  please  a 
friend,  or  prostitute  his  conscience  to  men's 
fancy.  Others  might  perhaps  judge  it  a  need- 
less preciseness,  or  obstinacy ;  but  he  could 
not  turn  his  sails  to  their  wind,  or  dance  after 
their  pipes,  though  he  had  manifold  temptations 
on  all  hands  from  great  and  small :  but  he  was 
of  Paul's  mind  and  practice  :  "  To  w^hom  we 
gave  place  by  subjection,  no,  not  for  an  hour; 
that  the  truth  of  the  gospel  might  continue  with 
you,"  Gal.  ii,  5. 

12.  He  made  great  proficiency  daily,  both  in 
learning,  grace,  and  holiness.  Having  laid  a 
low  foundation,  he  built  a  stately,  visible  super- 
structure. It  might  be  said  of  him,  as  of  the 
apostle  of  the  Thessalonians,  "  That  his  faith 
did  grow  exceedingly,  and  his  love  to  Chris- 
tians abounded,"  2  Thess.  i,  3.  The  pearl  grew 
too  big  for  the  shell ;  his  head  soared  above 
the  clouds,  and  his  heart  mounted  heavenward. 
And  as  he  grew  in  faith,  love,  meekness,  zeal 
for  God,  love  to  souls  ;  so  above  all,  in  humility, 
self-denial,  and  contempt  of  the  world.  As  he 
travelled  up  and  down  to  do  good,  so  he  tra- 
vailed  in   birth   over   poor  sinners.     Possibly 


LIFE    OF    NATHAXAEL    HEYWOOD.  293 

some  may  think  Mr.  Heywood  took  too  much 
upon  him,  and  was  too  sedulous  in  his  pains, 
both  in  the  face  of  danger,  and  to  the  hazard 
of  his  health ;  but,  as  to  the  one,  Calvin's 
apology  was  his :  "  Would  you  have  me  found 
idle  when  my  Lord  cometh  ?"  As  to  the  former, 
his  answer  and  actings  were  justifiable  by  a 
like  instance  in  the  life  of  Olevian,  who  asked 
them  whether  he  must  suspend  his  preaching 
at  that  time  for  fear  of  danger;  or  whether  they 
desired  to  hear  him  as  formerly.  The  people 
all  with  hands  lifted  up,  and  loud  voices,  cried 
out,  "  We  beseech  thee  to  preach."  Thus  the 
necessities  and  importunity  of  the  people  ex- 
torted work  from  this  poor  man.  His  heart 
was  upon  it ;  and,  being  engaged,  he  regarded 
not  any  carnal  arguments  from  flesh  and  blood, 
or  self-preservation.  The  last  sermon  he 
preached  at  a  friend's  house  in  the  parish  was 
as  a  swan-like  song,  pithy  and  sententious, 
ardent  and  affectionate.  As  before  he  exceeded 
others,  so  then  he  exceeded  himself ;  as  if  he 
knew  beforehand  that  it  was  the  last.  Thus 
his  last  was  more  than  his  first;  and  the  nearer 
the  centre,  the  quicker  was  his  motion.  He 
was  full  of  matter ;  as  if  he  were  at  a  loss  for 
time  to  do  the  remainder  of  his  work  in,  that  he 
might  despatch  it  all,  and  be  at  rest. 

13.  He  was  very  charitable  to  the  poor,  and 
such  as  were  in  necessity.  And  though  his 
small  revenue  and  constant  charge  somewhat 
bound  his  hands,  yet  they  could  not  restrain  his 
spirit.     He   drew  out  his  soul  to  the  hungry. 


294  LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

And,  indeed,  true  charity  is  seated  rather  in  a 
large  heart  than  liberal  hand.  The  imprimis 
of  a  willing  mind  finds  acceptance  Avhen  the 
items  of  alms  run  but  shallow.  To  his  power, 
many  will  bear  him  record,  yea,  beyond  his 
power,  he  was  willing ;  freely  welcoming 
objects  of  pity,  stirring  up  his  hearers  to  free 
contributions,  especially  in  behalf  of  the  godly 
poor,  whereby  the  bowels  of  many  were  refresh- 
ed by  this  brother.  Hence  it  was  that  he  that 
sowed  bountifully  did  then  (and  much  more 
now)  reap  bountifully.  For  "  the  liberal  soul 
shall  be  made  fat ;  and  he  that  watereth  shall 
be  watered  also  himself,"  Proverbs  xi,  25. 

14.  He  was  a  gTeat  admirer,  and  a  profound 
preacher,  of  the  glorious  gospel,  especially  in 
the  giving  of  Christ ;  and,  indeed,  this  he  made 
the  main  scope  of  all  his  preaching.  It  is  true, 
he  oft  preached  law  and  terror,  to  awaken  men's 
consciences,  and  drive  them  out  of  themselves 
to  Christ.  He  often  pressed  duty  in  a  circum- 
spect, exact,  and  holy  walking ;  and  urged  a 
spiritual  and  diligent  worshipping  of  God :  but 
still  demonstrating,  that  "  Christ  is  the  end  of 
the  law  for  righteousness  to  every  one  that  be- 
lieveth."  It  v/as  his  proper  genius,  and  most 
suitable  to  his  evangelical  spirit,  to  know  and 
preach  nothing  but  a  crucified  and  glorified 
Redeemer.  He  much  enlarged  upon  the  gos- 
pel way  of  the  justification  of  a  sinner.  His 
thoughts  ran  upon  this  theme,  sleeping  and 
waking ;  so  that  once  he  was  heard  in  his 
dream  to  say,  "  There  are  vast  heaps  of  free 


LIFE    OF    NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD.  295 

grace."  His  heart  was  greatly  enamoured  with 
the  love  of  God  in  sending  Christ.  This  was 
the  proper  element  in  which  he  moved  :  and 
few  dived  into  that  unfathomable  ocean  of  love 
so  deep  as  he  did. 

15.  He  was  a  zealous  defender  of  truth,  and 
impugner  of  error.  He  did  strenuously  contend 
for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints.  He 
much  delighted  in  the  form  of  wholesome 
words,  and  loved  not  new-coined  phrases, 
which  are  apt  to  amuse  men's  minds,  and  instill 
into  them  poisonous  principles.  He  loved  and 
used  sound  speech  that  cannot  be  condemned, 
as  well  as  sound  and  orthodox  truth ;  standing 
at  an  equal  distance  from  legalists  on  one 
hand,  and  Antinomians  on  the  other.  He  had 
a  strange  sagacity  in  discerning  persons,  things, 
and  doctrines  that  swerved  from,  or  suited  not, 
the  Scripture  dialect.  He  kept  close  to  the 
analogy  of  faith  ;  yet  was  not  against  profi- 
ciency, or  a  modest  improvement  of  know- 
ledge. He  had  the  advantage  of  many  years' 
intimate  converse  with  that  ancient  and  learned 
divine,  Mr.  Thomas  Johnson,  of  Halsall,  a  man 
of  vast  parts  and  unwearied  studies.  He  told 
Mr.  Heywood,  (his  intimate  friend,)  that  it 
much  repented  him  that  he  had  spent  so  much 
time  in  reading  books,  and  studying  controver- 
sies, that  might  have  been  more  profitably  im- 
proved in  conversing  with  and  instructing  his 
ignorant  and  carnal  neighbours.  Let  ministers 
think  of  this  ;  for  one  .soul  won  to  God  by  per- 
sonal conference  will  tend  more  to  God's  glory. 


296  LIFE    OF   NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 

and  a  minister's  comfort,  than  a  thousand 
notions  got  by  reading.  Howbeit,  a  due  mix- 
ture of  a  contemplative  and  active  life  must 
needs  be  the  best. 

16.  He  was  good  in  his  relative  condition. 
He  was  an  obedient  child,  an  exceedingly  kind 
husband,  a  tender-hearted  father,  an  affection- 
ate master,  a  faithful  friend.  He  maintained  a 
paternal  law,  authority,  gravity,  mixed  with 
fatherly  gentleness  and  lenity,  and  both  with 
incredible  prudence,  that  his  children  had  not 
occasion  either  to  slight  him,  or  be  discouraged 
by  him.  He  instructed  them  with  faithfulness; 
admonished  them  with  tenderness  ;  prayed  for 
them  with  faith  and  fervency  ;  and  walked  be- 
fore them  with  a  holy  exemplariness  and  sin- 
cerity. As  God  had  made  him  a  Nathanael 
toward  God,  so  a  Joshua,  resolving  that  he  and 
his  house  should  serve  the  Lord.  It  is  a  true 
maxim,  that  he  who  is  not  relatively  good,  is 
not  really  good.  But  he  stood  square  for  every 
duty  in  every  relation.  He  kept  his  children 
much  at  home,  being  very  jealous  lest  they 
should  meet  with  temptations  abroad  ;  which 
occasioned  many  cares  and  prayers  about  their 
disposal. 

17.  He  had  attained  to  a  considerable  mea- 
sure of  assurance.  Though  he  had  walked  in 
darkness,  and  seen  no  light  in  his  first  convic- 
tions; yet  staying  himself  on  the  Lord,  his  God 
shone  upon  his  soul  with  the  light  of  his  coun- 
tenance, and  he  walked  many  days  with  the 
candle  of  God   shininsf  upon  his  head.     How 


LIFE    OF    NATHAXAEL    IIEYWOOD.  297 

frequently  in  prayer  did  he  express  his  joy  and 
gratitude  for  the  everlasting  consolation  and 
good  hope  through  grace  of  his  own  salvation  ! 
About  two  months  before  he  died,  one  Lord's 
day,  as  he  and  his  family  sat  together,  he  told 
his  wife  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  that  he  had 
great  troubles  concerning  his  spiritual  state,  and 
some  doubts  about  his  condition,  desiring  her 
to  pray  for  him.  Yet  the  Lord  dispelled  those 
dark  clouds,  and  in  due  time  sweetly  shone 
into  his  soul  with  the  sense  of  his  love. 

18,  He  had  a  strong  persuasion  of  God's 
care  of  his  numerous  family,  both  in  point  of 
education  and  provision.  As  God  had  gra- 
ciously looked  after  them  in  his  lifetime,  so  he 
had  conceived  great  hopes  of  their  supply  after 
his  decease.  It  is  true,  he  had  some  tempta- 
tions and  sad  thoughts  concerning  them  ;  but 
at  last  faith  got  the  victory  over  unbelief,  and 
having  left  his  sad  widow  with  her  better  Hus- 
band, and  his  fatherless  children  with  their 
heavenly  Father,  he  was  quiet ;  and  these 
thoughts  did  not  hinder  his  hearty  welcome  of 
his  Lord  when  he  summoned  him  by  death. 
And  therefore  after  he  had  by  faith  and  prayer 
devolved  the  care  of  them  upon  the  Lord,  he 
freely  acquiesced  in  his  good  providence  about 
himself  and  them.  On  Tuesday  before  he 
died,  getting  into  his  bed,  his  breath  being  very 
short,  his  wife  broke  out  into  sore  weeping ;  to 
whom  he  said,  "  Be  not  troubled  ;  God  will  pro- 
vide necessaries  for  thee  and  thy  posterity  for 
ever:"  which   brings  to  mind  the   passage  of 


298  LIFE    OF   NATHANAEL   HEYWOOD. 

Bucer,  who,  dying,  stretched  out  three  fingers, 
with  his  eyes  lift  up  to  heaven,  saying,  "  He, 
he  alone  rules  and  governs  all  things."  The 
event  hath  abundantly  answered  this  good  man's 
prediction  and  expectation. 

19.  It  is  very  considerable  that  he  had  his 
desire  in  a  leisurely  lingering  death.  He  had 
often  expressed  his  willingness  (if  that  were 
God's  will)  that  death  might  come  on  gradually, 
and  not  surprise  him  ;  yea,  he  prayed  that  he 
might  be  long  in  his  sickness,  and  also  that  he 
might  be  sensible  to  the  last :  the  Lord  did 
condescend  to  him  in  both  these  requests.  He 
had  been  long  habitually  prepared,  but  he  de- 
sired to  be  actually  ready ;  for  it  is  an  import- 
ant concern  to  die,  and  go  into  a  world  of  spi- 
rits. This  good  man  had  frequent  warnings, 
and  continued  strong  in  his  intellect  all  the  lime 
of  his  illness.  Upon  Friday  night  his  brother- 
in-law  coming  to  him,  asked  him  if  he  had 
made  his  will:  he  answered,  No;  he  desired 
to  have  his  son  Nathanael  at  home  when  he  did 
that.  But  perceiving  that  he  was  weakening 
apace,  and  that  his  time  would  not  be  long,  be- 
ing urged  again,  he  consented,  and  sent  for  a 
clerk,  and  despatched  that  worldly  concern  that 
night ;  then  he  was  in  perfect  composedness 
of  mind,  being  but  one  night  besides  that  till 
his  death. 

20.  As  he  was  highly  qualified  with  personal 
disposition.  Christian  graces,  and  ministerial 
abilities,  so  God  gave  him  favour  in  the  sight 
of  all  with  whom  he  conversed.     It  is  true,  ho 


LIFE   OF   NATHAXAEL   HEYWOOD.  299 

had  adversaries ;  but  it  was  for  the  matters  of 
his  God,  wherein  his  principles  carried  him 
to  practices  different  from  them :  yet  even 
those  commended  him  for  his  parts  and  preach- 
ing. Yea,  at  death,  some  that  had  been  bitter 
enemies  were  well  reconciled  to  him.  One 
instance  was  very  remarkable :  there  was  one 
Mr.  Brownlow,  an  old  gentleman  that  lived  in 
the  town,  who  had  conceived  a  bitter  grudge 
against  Mr.  Heywood,  after  King  Charles's  re- 
turn, because  he  would  not  read  the  Common 
Prayer ;  but  upon  his  death-bed  he  sent  for  Mr. 
Heywood,  and  entreated  him  to  go  to  prayer 
with  him. 

Thus  I  have  given  a  brief  narrative  of  what 
was  memorable  in  this  holy  man  of  God,  and 
imitable  by  us.  I  may  say  to  every  one,  "  Go 
thou  and  do  likewise.^*  Let  Christians  pray 
that  God  would  send  forth  many  such  labour- 
ers into  his  harvest,  succeed  their  labours,  and 
learn  to  improve  such  spiritual  helps,  that 
they  may  give  a  good  account  of  these  rich 
talents  at  last. 


300  LIFE    OF   NATHANAEL    HEYWOOD. 


Extract  of  a  letter  sent  by  Mr.  Nathanael  Hey  wood  to  a 
Christian  friend,  May  1st,  1675. 

Dear  Friend, — I  give  you  hearty  thanks 
for  your  loving  and  godly  letter ;  whereby  I 
was  much  refreshed  in  those  my  late  troubles, 
which  indeed  were  many  and  heavy ;  yet  in 
such  a  cause,  and  for  such  a  Master,  did  I 
suffer,  that  I  must  needs  say  they  were  light 
and  easy.  O  that  God  may  have  the  glory,  and 
others  be  encouraged!  As  sufferings  for  Christ 
did  abound,  so  consolations  abounded  by  Christ. 
Let  the  world  know  that  suffering  for  Christ  is 
the  very  element  wherein  Christ's  love  liveth 
and  exerciseth  itself,  and  his  choicest  cordials 
are  reserved  for  such  a  time.  I  was,  in  a  great 
measure,  a  stranger  to  the  comforts  and  sweet- 
ness of  Christianity,  till  1  was  singled  out  to 
bear  the  cross.  He  was  pleased  to  seal  my 
sufferings  with  the  sweet  sense  and  experience 
of  unspeakable  joy  and  peace.  Had  not  some 
great  persons  interposed  by  their  interest  and 
authority,  I  had  certainly  gone  to  prison  at  that 
time,  when  I  was  taken  by  soldiers  ;  and  at 
the  session  shortly  after,  had  not  God  raised  up 
other  friends  (some  of  them  justices)  to  frustrate 
the  purpose  and  design  of  my  enemies,  who 
would  have  sent  me  six  months  to  prison  before 
the  sessions,  for  living  within  five  miles  of  this 
town  ;  yea,  would  have  convicted  me  among 
recusants  for  not  coming  to  this  church  ;  but 
it   pleased    God,  by  a    .special  providence,  to 


LIFE    OF    XATHA.NAEL    HEYWOOD.  301 

prevent  that  also.  But,  alas  !  all  these  troubles 
are  nothing  to  that  I  am  now  mourning  under, 
the  loss  of  public  liberty  ;  a  closed  mouth,  dumb 
and  silent  Sabbaths  :  to  be  cast  out  of  the  vine- 
yard as  a  dry  and  withered  branch,  and  to  be 
laid  aside  as  a  broken  vessel,  in  whom  there  is 
no  pleasure,  is  a  sore  burden  which  I  know  not 
how  to  bear  ;  my  heart  bleeds  under  it,  as  a 
sting  and  edge  added  to  my  other  troubles  and 
afflictions.  This  exercise  of  my  ministry,  next 
to  Christ,  is  dearer  to  me  than  any  thing  in  the 
world.  It  was  my  heaven,  till  I  come  home, 
even  to  spend  this  life  in  gathering  souls  to 
Christ.  But  I  must  lay  even  that  down  at 
Christ's  feet,  and  be  dumb  and  silent  before  the 
Lord,  because  he  has  done  it,  who  can  do  no 
wrong,  and  whose  judgments  are  past  finding 
out.  I  am  sure  I  have  reason  to  conclude  with 
the  prophet,  "  I  will  bear  the  indignation  of  the 
Lord,  because  I  have  sinned  against  him." 


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Calder's  Life  of  Episcopius. 

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Heretic,  and  sentenced  to  peri)etual  Banishment  by  the 
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of  General  Redemption.  To  which  is  added  a  Brief  Ac- 
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grateful  to  the  feelings  in  rescuing  from  undeserved  obscu- 
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we  delight  to  render  to  those,  who,  in  the  hour  of  disgrace, 
danger,'and  death,  stand  forth  as  defenders  of  truth  and 
liberty— dear  to  our  hearts  assuredly  should  be  the  name  of 
Simon  Episcopius,  one  of  the  noblest  spirits  which  a  land 
rich  in  the  glory  of  her  sons  has  produced. 

Strickland' s  History  of  Missions. 

History  of  Missions  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
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Present  Time.  By  Rev.  W.  P.  Stricklaxd,  A.  M.  With 
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trait of  Rev.  N.  Bangs,  D.  D. 

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Giles'  (Charles)  Narrative. 

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life  and  labours,  )-et  it  will  be  found  sufficiently  comprehen- 
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and  to  afford  the  means  of  correcting  the  most  material  er- 
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duty  to  their  children  who  do  not  put  Mr.  Watson's  volume 
into  their  hands. 

In  this  very  instructive  biography  Mr.  Wesley's  doctrinal  views 
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and  conduct  are  defended  with  admirable  ability  and  effect. 
Mr.  Wesley  published  more  books,  travelled  more  miles,  and 
preached  more  sermons  than  any  other  minister  of  his  age  ; 
and  the  entire  history  of  human  nature  does  not  furnish  a 
higher  example  of  laborious  diligence  in  the  service  of  God 
and  man. — Rev.  Tho.mas  Jackson. 

Harris  on  Covetousness. 

Mammon ;   or,   Covetousness  the   Sin   of  the  Christian 
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"  The  love  of  money  will,  in  all  probability,  prove  the  eter- 
nal overthrow  of  more  characters  among  professing  people 
than  any  other  sin,  because  it  is  almost  the  only  crime  which 
can  be  indulged,  and  a  profession  of  religion  at  the  same 
time  supported." 

*«*  Attention  is  particularly  requested  to  the  new  Classified  and  Descriptive 
Catalogue  of  Books,  Tracts,  Ac,  published  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
which  can  be  readily  obtained  from  the  Agents,  Messrs.  Carlton  &  Phillips, 
No.  'iW  Mulberry-street,  New-York,  or  from  Mesars.  SwonnstedtA  Poe,  comer 
of  Main  and  Eighth-streets,  Cincinnati, 

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J3/e 

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THE  LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

Santa  Barbara 


STACK  COLLECTION 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATI 
STAMPED  BELOW. 


B     000  010  482     8 


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